Well deserved honor
For the first time, the Vietnam Aquatics Association organized an award to honor individuals and groups in aquatic sports activities called "Vietnam Aquatics Awards 2024" (the award was announced on the evening of December 24). With recognition from worthy competition results, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang received the award for Best Male Swimmer in Vietnam.
“I don’t know what to say because this is one of the awards I have been waiting for in my career. All Vietnamese swimmers competing have tried their best for the country’s flag and colors, bringing glory to the Fatherland. I really appreciate this award,” Nguyen Huy Hoang expressed.
Nguyen Huy Hoang's 2024 did not have many outstanding events. However, the highlight of the Quang Binh native was winning an official ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics (France). The history of Vietnamese aquatic sports recorded Nguyen Huy Hoang as the first male athlete to have twice consecutively qualified and officially participated in the Olympics (2020 Olympics in Japan, 2024 Olympics in France).
“The Olympics is a truly different arena. I have grown a lot since then. I have tried my best to achieve my best results because competing in the Olympics means further development in my career,” Nguyen Huy Hoang once shared after returning from the 2024 Paris Olympics (France). After competing in the 2024 Paris Olympics (France) and returning home, Nguyen Huy Hoang has almost disappeared from the media. The swimmer from Quang Binh shared that he has focused more time on himself to accumulate expertise. Huy Hoang has not participated in many international competitions during this period. However, at the 2024 National Swimming Championship (October 2024), Nguyen Huy Hoang managed to shine and win 6 Gold Medals in the events he participated in.
Vietnamese swimming has introduced many famous athletes, making their mark in the international arena. Nguyen Huy Hoang is the most unique male athlete. If not, the swimmer from Quang Binh is a special player. The special thing is that Huy Hoang conquered every tournament he attended, owning the most prestigious titles for himself at the SEA Games, ASIAD, and officially qualifying for the Olympics.
Speaking about his student, coach Nguyen Hoang Vu of the Vietnam Swimming Team said: "This is an athlete with talent, clear goals when competing and always tries his best." Mentioning Nguyen Huy Hoang, domestic press has devoted many articles and reports to this athlete.
When asked if Huy Hoang sees anything new in 2024 alone, the player said: “I am still me, still focusing on my expertise. I am accumulating according to the training cycle of the professional curriculum so that I can strive my best in 2025. I have never run out of motivation to conquer new achievements.”
SEA Games 33, ASIAD 20 are the goals to strive for
Before appearing at the Vietnam Aquatics Awards 2024, Nguyen Huy Hoang had just returned home after a training period in Australia. The training program for the Vietnamese swimming team for Nguyen Huy Hoang included three other key faces: Tran Hung Nguyen, Pham Thanh Bao, and Do Ngoc Vinh.
No one said it, but the way the Vietnamese swimming manager did it showed that we started preparing for the important arenas of SEA Games 33 and ASIAD 20 from now on. “Each training program brings a difference. I was lucky to participate in the training sessions. During the training program in Australia, we gained more experience in preparation so that when entering the water, we can reach the best speed. The training session was very useful for me and everyone,” Huy Hoang shared.
Nguyen Huy Hoang is always reserved in his sharing. The player from Quang Binh said that he never focuses on social media content but his highest concern is expertise. It is no coincidence that the Aquatics Association decided to organize the "Vietnam Aquatics Awards 2024" to honor coaches and athletes.
“Aquatic sports coaches and athletes always participate in many important tournaments and achieve good results, so honoring them is worthy. This honor also has spiritual significance, encouraging those working in aquatic sports to make more efforts in tournaments. We always know that finding potential athletes and then training and coaching them to compete and develop to achieve high results takes a lot of time. But with a real honor for them, everyone will definitely be more confident,” said Mr. Dinh Viet Hung, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association.
24 years ago, when Nguyen Huy Hoang was born in Thanh Tien, Tien Hoa, Tuyen Hoa district (Quang Binh), no one thought he would become a leading swimmer in Vietnamese sports. After 24 years, Nguyen Huy Hoang deserves the title of Best Male Swimmer in Vietnam. Huy Hoang once shared that he is not a special person but an ordinary athlete. "Success in competition results must come from hard training and determination to achieve results," Huy Hoang said.
Now Nguyen Huy Hoang has started to practice professionally towards the 33rd SEA Games. The goal that the athlete set for himself is to continue to achieve the best results in Thailand. In 2017 (when Huy Hoang was 17 years old), Nguyen Huy Hoang surprised his opponents at the 29th SEA Games in Malaysia when he became the champion, winning the Gold Medal in the men's 1,500m freestyle event. After that, Huy Hoang continuously won Gold Medals at the 30th, 31st, and 32nd SEA Games.
Huy Hoang is currently the most successful male swimmer at the SEA Games in the history of Vietnamese aquatic sports. “The training program for Nguyen Huy Hoang in 2025 will be specifically developed. Based on the goals, athletes will have the opportunity to access specialized training programs to improve their expertise,” a representative of the swimming department (Department of Physical Education and Sports) confirmed.
In 2024, Nguyen Huy Hoang will have a long training session in Hungary.Through the above training journey, the athlete from Quang Binh has achieved strong speed.
In the long-term plan, we continue to build preparations for the 20th ASIAD arena.No one can predict anything in this arena because the top Asian swimmers are participating.Huy Hoang won medals at the 18th and 19th ASIAD.If he continues to win medals at the 20th ASIAD, Nguyen Huy Hoang will certainly be satisfied with his professional career.
The criteria for the Vietnam Aquatics Awards 2024 are based on the number of international medals won by the athlete. Achievements are based on the scale and nature of the tournament (priority given to individual medals); Number of records achieved by the athlete; Number of domestic medals are based on the scale and nature of the tournament (priority given to individual medals). At the Vietnam Aquatics Awards 2024 ceremony, athlete Vo Thi My Tien was awarded the title of Best Female Athlete of Vietnam. This year, Vo Thi My Tien attended the 2024 Paris Olympics (France).
