For decades, "tough old man" Bui Luong, a name not unfamiliar to Vietnamese athletics in general and especially to those who love running, has always been considered a powerful symbol and a driving force that brings vitality to the movement.
He is always well-liked and admired wherever he goes, not only because of his outstanding achievements at the annual national cross-country race, but also because of his attitude towards his profession and life. His example of diligent training and love for running has ignited passion in many localities and provinces, unleashing potential and contributing to the training of future generations for Vietnamese marathon running.
The nickname "tough old man" wasn't given by chance, as he had a proud career and illustrious lifetime contributions to cross-country running. Despite his modest stature, standing at only around 1.62 meters, this man, born in 1939 and originally from Ho Chi Minh City, embraced the sport with passion and considered running as essential to his daily life as food and water.
I remember sitting next to him once at the annual Vietnamese Sports Victory Cup awards ceremony in Hanoi , and he recounted: "I was born in the South but moved to the North with my family. During those days far from home, to ease my homesickness, I didn't know what to do except train my willpower, determination, and maintain my health through running. I practiced for a long time, and it became a habit. Then, unexpectedly, I participated in the 5,000-meter race, called the North-wide long-distance race, held in Hanoi around Hoan Kiem Lake in 1957, and finished in third place. That result strengthened my belief and later led me to decide to pursue running as a sport."
Mr. Bui Luong (left) with former Director of the High-Performance Sports Department of the Sports and Physical Education Committee, Nguyen Hong Minh, at the Victory Cup award ceremony.
Thanks to his natural talent and determined training, Mr. Bui Luong won his first cross-country championship in 1961 and held the national records for the 5,000m and 10,000m races for 14 years (1961-1975) until Nguyen Van Tuyet of Lao Cai set a new record.
Notably, Bui Luong holds a record that no Vietnamese athlete has yet broken: winning the gold medal nine times in the cross-country race organized by Tien Phong Newspaper. Speaking about this proud achievement, Bui Luong briefly stated: "I am happy because running is in my blood. As long as I live, I will run, and my passion will remain. To achieve this result, I have a habit of running early every morning, maintaining my health through training, and trying to avoid stimulants."
Mr. Bui Luong (left), an inspiring example of the running spirit.
Mr. Bui Luong began his coaching career when he was nearly 40 years old, but for over half a century, he has tirelessly nurtured many generations of talented athletes. From Dang Thi Teo, national marathon gold medalist; Doan Nu Truc Van, 10,000m champion at the 22nd SEA Games; Nguyen Chi Dong and Nguyen Thi Hoa, silver medalists in the marathon at the 22nd SEA Games in 2023, all benefited from his guidance and support.
Moreover, many national champions and those with achievements at the SEA Games, as well as many localities with good middle and long-distance runners, were mostly discovered by him. In particular, for nearly 10 years, with his dedication, he transformed Binh Phuoc into a "gold mine" for Vietnamese running. Examples include Tran Van Loi and Hoang Nguyen Thanh, the first Vietnamese athlete to win a historic gold medal in the marathon with a time of 2 hours and 25 minutes at the 31st SEA Games in 2022.
Mr. Bui Luong at the 2017 Victory Cup.
Mr. Bui Luong's example in running has inspired many runners of all ages. He once recounted with radiant happiness: "When building the running movement in Binh Phuoc, I was fortunate to become a shining example of sportsmanship, even though I was over 60. With the support of the local leaders, I used all my abilities to help those who came to running, some with weak physical conditions, lacking the health to enthusiastically pursue training, thereby igniting the strength to motivate everyone to participate regularly. Some told me that when they first started running, they would experience symptoms like leg pain, muscle pain, and shortness of breath, and I helped them with methods, techniques, and most importantly, the spirit of hard work to gradually overcome their difficulties," Mr. Bui Luong said.
Farewell to him, a man who dedicated his entire life to Vietnamese athletics and running, and who was awarded the Third-Class Labor Medal by the President of Vietnam in 1980. He will forever be a shining example for all generations to follow and emulate. The award he received for lifetime achievement at the 2016 Victory Cup ceremony speaks volumes about the recognition he received from sports professionals and fans across the country.
Rest in peace, sir!
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vinh-biet-nguoi-chay-khoe-nhat-ong-gia-gan-lay-lung-cua-the-thao-viet-nam-185240701105030489.htm
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