On the evening of December 11, at the gymnasium, Nguyen Van Khanh Phong had an impressive performance, surpassing many opponents to win the gold medal in the 33rd SEA Games hanging round.
The gold medal sparkled in the spotlight, but for this male athlete, that moment was both complete and painful. The first person he wanted to announce the victory - the person who always stood behind every time his son fell - was no longer in the stands.
Khanh Phong said that before, every time he failed to compete, he saw his father quietly wiping away tears behind him. That man was the one who encouraged him the most, always believing that his child could step out of the fall to go further.
But recently, his father passed away suddenly, leaving a void that no one could compensate for. Dady, I did what I said... Today I did not break my promise to you, Khanh Phong choked up as he shared after the victory.
Without his father by his side, Khanh Phong admitted that there were still weak moments. Before the competition, he looked up to the stands with the habit of finding familiar faces, then paused when he realized the silence.
That feeling made Phong's heart drop, but it also became the motivation for him to focus and not allow himself to make mistakes.
The 33rd SEA Games champion said that usually his mother often accompanies her husband and children, but this time she could not attend due to poor health.
"Mom still cheers from afar, like Dad. Today, I am still not in a hurry to call home because I want to release all the sadness that is accumulating, then calm enough to share the joy with my mother", Khanh Phong said.
The 33rd SEA Games gold medal is the result of many years of hard work, but for Khanh Phong, it is also a gift to the father who has lived his dream.
For now, Khanh Phong continues to aim for the World Cup and medals at the ASIAD, while perfecting his physical strength, although he admits he has limitations.
