Positive inspiration from the 2024 Quang Tri Provincial Cycling Race “Peaceful Destination”

In the 2024 Quang Tri Province Cycling Race "Peaceful Destination" held on June 30, female athlete TON HOANG KHÁNH LAN excellently won the championship in the women's 20 km event. What's more special is that she is a professional female bodybuilder who has won the world bodybuilding and fitness championship with many impressive achievements, inspiring people to live positively. Quang Tri Newspaper reporter had a conversation with her to hear her share about her journey of pursuing her passion and the meaningful competition in Quang Tri.

Coming to Quang Tri is not just for competition...

- First of all, congratulations on winning the women's 20km championship at the 2024 Quang Tri Provincial Cycling Tournament " Peaceful Destination". Can you share with readers your feelings when participating in this tournament?

- Before coming to the tournament, I set a goal of being determined to step on the highest podium. I tried my best and was very happy to be the first to reach the finish line, achieving my personal goal of achievement.

Over the past few days, I have experienced wonderful emotions on the sacred land of Quang Tri. Before the official competition day, the athletes participated in many activities: a bicycle parade and a number of short races; visiting and giving gifts to families with revolutionary contributions and children in difficult circumstances; offering incense, paying tribute and commemorating heroic martyrs at the Hien Luong-Ben Hai National Monument, Truong Son National Martyrs Cemetery, Quang Tri Ancient Citadel, Fidel Park...

Although I have participated in many large and small sports competitions, I have never had the opportunity to stand in the flag-raising ceremony and sing the national anthem at the Hien Luong - Ben Hai National Historical Site.

A very solemn and emotional feeling kept surging inside me. Being able to cycle along the parade with the athletes through each route, feeling the poetic scenery of Quang Tri as well as the friendliness and hospitality of the people here were unforgettable experiences for me.

- What attracted you to Quang Tri to participate in the 2024 Quang Tri Provincial Cycling Race "Peaceful Destination"?

- Previously, I had the opportunity to stop in Quang Tri town during a long-distance race but did not have time to stay and explore this land. This year, when I heard that Quang Tri province was collaborating with Thanh Nien Newspaper to organize the Cycling Festival for Peace - an important event, opening the 2024 Festival for Peace, which will be held for the first time in Quang Tri province, I was very eager to experience it.

After researching the race route and meaningful activities in the tournament program, I quickly registered to participate in the shirt of the Road 9 Green Sports Cycling Club, Dong Ha City. True to the name of the tournament and the message "Cycling for Peace" given by the organizers, for me, this is not only a competition but also a journey to help people who love cycling and people connect more closely.

I think that by participating in meaningful activities to honor the value of peace right in a place that suffered much pain and loss during the war like Quang Tri, each athlete will understand and cherish the value of peace to live more responsibly.

Besides, because I often hear and see many beautiful pictures of Quang Tri, I really want to come here and participate in the 2024 Quang Tri Province Cycling Race "Peaceful Destination" to feel and spread the image of this land further to friends everywhere.

Inspire positive living

- Dear Ms.! Currently, many readers want to know more information about the female champion athlete at the 2024 Quang Tri Province Cycling Race "Peaceful Destination". Can you share a little about yourself?

- I was born and raised in Trang Bom district, Dong Nai province. My childhood was difficult because I had to be away from my parents, living under the care of my grandmother and the protection of my uncles and aunts.

Ton Hoang Khanh Lan (first, right) shares joy with teammates at the 2024 Quang Tri Province Cycling Race "Peaceful Destination" - Photo: M.D

Since I was little, I only liked boys' games like soccer, running, martial arts... When I was in school, I participated in high jump, soccer, volleyball, cross-country running... and most of the time I won prizes. There was a time when my grandmother and aunts prevented me from playing sports because they were afraid that playing too much would make me lose my femininity. Because I was so passionate, I sneaked out of my grandmother's house to learn Taekwondo, then tested myself by signing up to race bicycles with boys...

After graduating from high school, due to difficult circumstances, I applied to work as a service staff at a golf course. Later, by chance, I switched to training and competing in bodybuilding. I am currently a national bodybuilder with 24 years of professional competition.

During my career, I have won a number of achievements at world and national bodybuilding competitions... Regarding cycling, I have been practicing and competing for the past 3 years and am currently adapting quite well.

- So, your journey to pursue your passion for sports must have encountered many difficulties and challenges?

- Yes, since being selected for the Dong Nai Province youth bodybuilding team in 2001, I have been attached to this harsh sport and have also “paid a heavy price” for pursuing my passion. Firstly, bodybuilding is usually chosen by men, so for a woman like me to participate in training will be much more difficult.

At that time, although I did not have the opportunity to try it, watching it on TV, I always had the desire to stand on the podium like professional female athletes, surpassing my own limits and showing off the strong beauty of my muscles. For many years, after finishing work at the golf course, I cycled more than 20 km to Bien Hoa City to work out.

There were days when the rain flooded the entire street, and when I got to the gym, everyone had already gone home, so I practiced alone. With bodybuilding, in addition to perseverance and dedication to training, you also need to have a moderate diet, strictly following the quality and quantity.

There were times when, after each period of losing weight and gaining muscle to prepare for a competition, many people ridiculed me, even “doubted” about my true gender. However, my point of view is that each person has their own interests and passions, so I always ignore the harsh words. I always want to set more limits for myself and persevere to overcome them.

Ton Hoang Khanh Lan was once recruited directly into the national bodybuilding team because of her beautiful body and good muscle movement ability. The impressive achievements that athlete Ton Hoang Khanh Lan has achieved in bodybuilding are: Champion of the World Bodybuilding and Fitness Championship in 2018, gold medal in the all-around at the National Bodybuilding Championship 2021, bronze medal at the Asian Bodybuilding Championship 2022 and many consecutive years of winning the national bodybuilding championship. In sports cycling: Women's champion at the Ho Lang Cross Country amateur mountain bike race 2024, women's champion at the Soc Son mountain bike race for the 1st Thanh Giong Cup - 2024, second prize for women at the Team Time Trial Cycling Race held in Ho Chi Minh City in 2024, women's champion at the Traditional Amateur Cycling Race in Vinh Cuu district, Dong Nai province in 2024...

- At the 2024 Quang Tri Province Cycling Tournament “Peaceful Destination”, many spectators witnessed athlete Khanh Lan continuously leading the race, using all her strength to accelerate, separating herself from the group and finishing first. Through her personal achievements, what message do you hope to convey to the community?

- The 2024 Quang Tri Province Cycling Race "Peaceful Destination" received a lot of attention and participation from athletes nationwide and enthusiastic support from the people because in addition to activities to show gratitude and honor the value of peace, the tournament also created a positive effect to promote and encourage the spirit of sports training in each person.

I was very excited when, during my days in Quang Tri, I saw people waking up early in the morning to jog, cycle, and exercise. That is also what I want to tell everyone: try to wake up a little earlier, spend time exercising, and playing sports to improve your health.

When you are healthy, you will be completely confident to do everything well, contributing more to the community and society. I believe that everyone has many limits that they have not discovered or have not dared to overcome. But let's try our best, because the feeling of standing on the podium of glory or simply conquering yourself is also a feeling worth experiencing!

Thank you!

Minh Duc (performed)

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/truyen-cam-hung-tich-cuc-tu-giai-dua-xe-dap-tinh-quang-tri-nam-2024-diem-den-hoa-binh-186718.htm