Starting from village festivals to soldier uniforms
Born in 1995 in the land rich in wrestling traditions of Hiep Hoa (former Bac Giang), Ngo Van Lam's childhood was associated with wrestling arenas every spring. It was the visits to village festivals that sparked in young Lam a strong passion for this powerful sport.
In 2008, through many introductions, Ngo Van Lam officially joined the 3-level talent class of the Army in Yen Phong, Bac Ninh. Those were the early days away from home, the 13-year-old teenager had to train his independence in a strict disciplinary environment.
Two years later, with superior qualities, Lam was transferred to the front line at the Army Sports Center (now the Army Sports Training and Competition Center). But right at the time when the door to his career was widest, a tragic event struck.
In 2010, when I had just joined the unit for a year, I heard the news that my mother had a serious illness. In the most confused and painful moment, I packed my backpack and went all the way to the gate to ask to return to my mother's side," Ngo Van Lam recalled.
However, at that gate, he met his teacher - the person he considered a benefactor who changed his whole life.
At that time, I intended to ask to go home, but it was the teacher and my mother's encouragement over the phone that kept me. My mother wanted me to continue pursuing the path I had chosen. That is the biggest motivation for me to strive until now," Van Lam said.
The harsh military environment has trained him in discipline and self-reliance. From a clumsy boy in a foreign land, Ngo Van Lam gradually matured and affirmed himself in his military uniform.
In 2017, he was officially recruited into the Army and is currently holding the professional Major rank.
Willpower after several weight loss attempts
The military environment has molded a thorny Ngo Van Lam on the battlefield, but it is extremely warm in real life.
He shared: "The first day I came to the unit, I was still unfamiliar, alone in my hometown, no one knew me, but thanks to the guidance of the teachers and older brothers, I gradually grew up over the years.
In 2017, I was recruited into the official payroll and currently hold the rank of Professional Major".
In the wrestling world, many people commented that Lam is a "war-hardened" athlete, stubborn. However, he laughed and said that he is only stubborn when competing, but in real life it is completely the opposite.
That contrast creates the unique attraction of this heavyweight wrestler - a disciplined steel soldier but always emotional with his teammates and loved ones.
Top-level wrestling is not only about knocking opponents down, but also a fierce battle with his own body. At SEA Games 31 at home, Lam had to force himself to gain up to 10kg to compete in the "huge" weight class of 125kg. At that time, even though he only weighed more than 100kg, he still had to face real "giants".
However, only 1 year later, at SEA Games 32 in Cambodia, Van Lam made the opposite journey, rapidly losing 12kg to drop to the 92kg category.
The hardest thing in athlete life is weight loss. I can't eat enough, I can't drink properly, while the intensity of training has to be increased many times to compensate for the goals that have not been achieved. At SEA Games 31, I did not complete the gold medal target, so SEA Games 32 is an opportunity for me to prove that I can do it," he confided.
Aspiration to break through in 2026
In addition to the goal of winning a Gold Medal at the 2026 National Sports Games, Ngo Van Lam is aiming for further goals at continental and world level, especially in beach wrestling - an event that requires strength and excellent balance ability on sand.
According to the roadmap, in April, he will depart to attend the Asian Beach Games held in China. This is considered an important warm-up step for the most important event in his career, the 2026 World Beach Ball Championship held in Da Nang in May 2026.
The first world tournament being hosted in Vietnam is an opportunity for the wrestler born in 1995 to realize his dream of reaching the highest peak.
Every time he is tired or faces weight loss, Lam remembers his mother's phone call more than 15 years ago. For him, each victory on the sand or on the battlefield is a stick of incense offered to his deceased mother, and is an affirmation of the bravery of a special soldier of Vietnamese sports.
