"Flying" through all levels
The audience present at Tam Ky Stadium (Da Nang) at the 2025 National Youth Athletics Championship (closing on October 14) focused on the high- jump area to witness athlete Duong Thi Thao successfully conquer the 1m85 bar. The result was recognized as a new national youth record. Two months ago, the national youth record for women's high jump was 1m84.
The main record setter was Duong Thi Thao. She reached this milestone when competing in the 2025 National Athletics Championship at Hoa Xuan Stadium (Da Nang). This is one of the rare times that Vietnam Athletics has witnessed an athlete break a consecutive record in just a very short time apart.
Duong Thi Thao is quite reserved about sharing her results because her professional achievements are being improved by female athletes. "Maybe I was lucky to have achieved such an achievement. Competing in Da Nang has brought me good results, Duong Thi Thao expressed. That is Duong Thi Thao's modest view. In fact, his courage and expertise have determined the achievements of this young face.
In May this year, Duong Thi Thao had a memorable trip abroad to win a Gold Medal at the Hong Kong (China) Open Athletics 2025. Here, she won the high jump event when she crossed the bar 1m81. A year ago, Duong Thi Thao attended the 2024 Southeast Asian Student Sports Festival in Da Nang and won the Gold Medal in the high jump with a result of 1m74.
Evaluating her young student, coach Vu Thi My Hanh of the Vietnam Athletics Team shared: athlete Thao is a new face who is actively accumulating expertise through tournaments. It can be seen that Thao's achievements in important tournaments have achieved remarkable professional indicators. Thao can cross the bar 1m80, but the most important thing is to keep her mentality and performance very stable".
learn more modestly
Born in Bac Giang (now Bac Ninh), Duong Thi Thao did not know much about athletics. After being selected by the athletics coaches of the Army Sports Training Center, she was trained in basic techniques from getting into the momentum, dancing or air- performing techniques of high-altitude dancing.
"I still have to practice very carefully to ensure the best professional skills. Through each tournament, I learn many things and above all, I improve myself, Duong Thi Thao shared.
The military sports environment helps Thao gain confidence in her expertise. Above all, Duong Thi Thao determined to maintain a sense of discipline to do well the lesson plan set by the coach. Few people know that Duong Thi Thao has been practicing high dancing since 2021.
After 4 years, she won the Gold Medal at the 2025 National Athletics Championship with a result of 1m84. This achievement broke the youth record of 1m83 set by former player Duong Thi Viet Anh long before.
"When I started practicing, I was only able to get a bar of 1m60. Through each stage, I have changed my expertise better. Every time I make a falling bar, I learn a lesson on how to improve better, Duong Thi Thao recalled.
In a conversation at the 2025 National Athletics Championship at Hoa Xuan Stadium (Da Nang), this athlete was very reserved and modest in expressing his expertise. She affirmed that the opportunity to compete means completing the assigned tasks at best.
Entering the age of 19, Duong Thi Thao has a bright future ahead. Vietnam Athletics is building a systematic program, focusing on investing in developing young talents to conquer many important arenas ahead. The results of Duong Thi Thao in recent times have proven that she is a talent and a rare thing that Vietnam Athletics possesses.
I think the most important thing I need to accumulate is competition experience. When I have the experience, I really hope to achieve the best results for myself and Vietnam Athletics, Duong Thi Thao shared.
Hope for the opportunity to participate in the SEA Games
This year, Duong Thi Thao was first called up to the Vietnam Athletics Team. She once revealed: "I have a big dream of having the opportunity to participate in the SEA Games. When I watched Vietnamese athletes compete in the SEA Games on television, I myself felt excited and wanted to try my hand at this arena. I really hope to be able to compete directly in the above Congress.
That is a very simple dream and also a goal that Duong Thi Thao set for herself to strive for. At this time, the Vietnam Athletics Team is carefully reviewing the force to select suitable people for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand.
Two years ago, the Vietnam Athletics Team only won the Silver Medal in the women's high jump event at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023 in Cambodia (athlete Pham Thi Diem, 1m77 record). At that time, the 32nd SEA Games champion in this event, Thanlada Thongchomphunut (Thailand), reached a bar of 1m79.
The current professional results and performance are enough to help Duong Thi Thao confidently overcome the bar of 1m79. "We will prepare carefully for Duong Thi Thao because women's high jump dance has a very fierce competition. Athletes have every chance to participate in the 33rd SEA Games because they have affirmed their expertise in important domestic tournaments, said Mr. Nguyen Duc Nguyen, head of the athletics department (Vietnam Department of Physical Education and Sports).
Each athlete has a different quality. Athlete Duong Thi Thao has practiced basic techniques very well to promote her expertise. We assess that Thao will have successful opportunities ahead, coach Vu Thi My Hanh added.
The Gold Medal at the 2025 National Athletics Championship and professional confidence are factors for the Vietnam Athletics Team's Coaching Board to certify Duong Thi Thao's participation in the 33rd SEA Games.
Over the past two years, Duong Thi Thao's professional achievements have changed significantly. Her professional parameters have exceeded the SEA Games Gold Medal achievement. The female player herself believes that she always focuses on training to achieve the best form to be ready to compete.
In history, the Vietnam Athletics Team won the Gold Medal in the women's high jump event at the SEA Games. At the 31st SEA Games held in Vietnam, athlete Pham Thi Diem won the Gold Medal in the high jump with a result of 1m78. At the 29th SEA Games held in Malaysia, athlete Duong Thi Viet Anh won the Gold Medal with a mark of 1m83.
If she competes successfully in Thailand this year, Duong Thi Thao will have the opportunity to be on the list of athletes with high results at the Southeast Asian Sports Festival of the Vietnam Athletics Team.
