Overcoming adversity to achieve glory

Born with a healthy body like other children, a polio infection at the age of 3 caused muscle atrophy in the legs of athlete Tran Thi Chau (44 years old, Dong Nai City Disabled Sports Weightlifting Team), making walking difficult.

Báo Đồng Nai•03/06/2026

Ms. Tran Thi Chau with her coaches and teammates at the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand in early 2026. Photo: Contributor.

However, with unwavering determination and an indomitable spirit, this woman from Suoi Nho commune (now Xuan Bac commune) has gradually overcome her inferiority complex and risen to become one of the outstanding athletes of disabled sports in Dong Nai and Vietnam. She has amassed an impressive collection of medals from both domestic and international competitions.

Overcoming fate

Born into a family with five sisters, life was already difficult, and illness forced Chau to interrupt her education. “In the 8th grade, I had to drop out of school to treat my legs. After that, I continued studying until the 9th grade before deciding to quit school altogether to find a path that suited me,” Chau recounted.

Although not as fortunate as many others, Ms. Chau never allowed herself to give up. It was during those years that she gradually found joy in sports. Initially, it was just physical exercise to improve her fitness, but then sports became a source of emotional support, helping her overcome her insecurities and live more optimistically each day.

In 2010, Dinh Quan district (formerly) organized a sports competition for people with disabilities. She boldly registered to participate in the wheelchair event and unexpectedly achieved high results. From this grassroots sports competition, she was selected to participate in the provincial (now city) level competition and continued to affirm her abilities to shine. It was from here that a major turning point in her life began to unfold.

At that time, the Dong Nai Sports Training Board for People with Disabilities discovered Ms. Chau's potential and guided her towards weightlifting – a sport that demands great strength, willpower, and endurance. "At first, I was worried because weightlifting was a completely new sport. But the coaches encouraged me and helped me believe that I could do it," Ms. Chau shared.

In 2011, after only a short period of training, athlete Tran Thi Chau participated for the first time in the National Championships for Athletics and Weightlifting for People with Disabilities and immediately caused a surprise by winning the gold medal.

Lift weights with determination and belief.

Over the years, female weightlifter Tran Thi Chau from Dong Nai has consistently made her mark at the national level. She has maintained her national gold medal record for 16 consecutive years. This is no easy feat for any athlete. Notably, at the 2026 National Athletics and Weightlifting Championships for People with Disabilities held in Thai Nguyen , Ms. Chau excelled, winning a double gold medal in the clean and jerk and total lift events in the women's 67kg category, successfully defending her achievement from 2025. “To win the double gold medal, I diligently trained according to the coaching staff's plan, preparing thoroughly in all aspects: technique, physical fitness… Standing on the podium to receive the medals, I was very emotional and proud because it was the collective achievement of the whole team,” Ms. Chau shared.

Not only successful domestically, Ms. Chau has also been selected numerous times to participate in international competitions for the Vietnamese Paralympic team. At the 12th ASEAN Para Games held in Cambodia in 2023, Ms. Chau won a silver and a bronze medal in the women's 67kg weight category. At the 13th ASEAN Para Games in Thailand in early 2026, she continued to win a silver medal after fierce competition against many strong opponents from the host country and Indonesia. That is also the medal she remembers most fondly in her career.

“During training at the National Training Center in Ho Chi Minh City, I suffered a left elbow injury. The pain persisted, but I silently endured it to continue training. When I stepped onto the competition floor, I only thought about trying my best… Winning a silver medal under those circumstances is a memory I will cherish forever,” Ms. Chau recounted emotionally.

Having been involved in weightlifting for many years, Ms. Chau understands that the journey to high-performance sports is never easy. Behind the medals are countless grueling training sessions, persistent pain from injuries, and the pressure of maintaining consistent performance for many years in a row. For her, the biggest challenge is not the opponents in the ring, but the battle to overcome herself.

Chau's daily training schedule consistently runs from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM. She maintains a strict training plan with three intense sessions and three light sessions per week. For an average athlete, that intensity is already very demanding; for someone with a physical disability, it represents an even greater sacrifice of sweat and extraordinary willpower. However, what has helped her persevere throughout this long journey is her love for sports and the support of her family, teachers, and teammates.

Coach Nguyen Van Vu from the Dong Nai City Sports Training and Competition Center commented: "Chau is one of the outstanding athletes of disabled sports in Dong Nai. Despite facing many difficulties in life, with willpower and determination, this athlete has risen strongly. She always trains seriously and persistently, not afraid of difficulties, and is a role model for many young athletes to follow. What helps Chau maintain consistent performance for many years is her discipline, high level of self-awareness in training, and strong competitive mentality."

Following her recent successes, Ms. Chau stated that her biggest goal is to maintain her form and improve her technique in preparation for upcoming international competitions, including the ASEAN Para Games held in Malaysia. In addition, she hopes for a more stable family life so she can better care for her husband and children, and inspire others in similar situations.

The message that athlete Tran Thi Chau wants to send to people with disabilities in similar circumstances is: Everyone has their own value and everyone can succeed in their own way. With willpower, determination, and resolve, disability is not the biggest obstacle. I hope that people with disabilities who still feel inferior will bravely overcome their self-doubt, live positively, and pursue their dreams.

An Nhon

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/the-thao/202606/vuot-nghich-canh-de-cham-vinh-quang-7bc247b/