The man who made history for Vietnamese swimming
Talking before leaving for China for training, Nguyen Huy Hoang said that the medal result at the 2025 Asian Championship (October 2025 in India) was a great encouragement for him. I still remember when I was young, I swam on the Gianh River in my hometown and thought I would want to become an athlete.
Then when I became an athlete and had months of training and competition away from home, I really wanted to conquer Asian results once. The Gold Medals at the 2025 Asian Championship have given me great encouragement, the male athlete confided.
Previously, the Vietnamese Swimming Team has not had any male players win medals at the Asian Championship. Participating in the 2025 Asian Championship, Nguyen Huy Hoang achieved the best result than expected, winning 2 Gold Medals (800m freestyle, 1,500m freestyle) and 1 individual Silver Medal (400m freestyle).
Huy Hoang acknowledged that achievements are his own efforts and preparation from coaches. However, luck also contributed to this result for the Quang Tri player. I feel a little lucky at the 2025 Asian Championship. With this result, I am very happy because I am the first male athlete to win a Gold Medal for Vietnamese swimming in the Asian playground.
We have had many leading faces in men's swimming through many generations such as: Tran Xuan Hien, Truong Ngoc Tuan, Nguyen Thanh Hai, Do Huy Long, Tran Huu Viet, Hoang Quy Phuoc... However, Nguyen Huy Hoang is the only one to conquer the heights of international professional achievements at all levels, especially the Asian Championship.
General Secretary of the Vietnam Water Sports Association, Mr. Dinh Viet Hung, once analyzed that Huy Hoang's ability to maintain his expertise is not only about physical strength but also will. "We always recognize athlete Huy Hoang as having a very strong will in every tournament. That is, he will never give up even if he may not win a medal, Mr. Dinh Viet Hung discussed.
If you have the strength, you can swim
Time has passed, from the time he was a promising young face in Vietnamese sports, Nguyen Huy Hoang is now the oldest swimmer currently training the Vietnam Swimming Team. This year I am 25 years old. Every new age, I get more mature. But everyone understands that sports are physical exercise and swimming is the sport that requires the most speed. As I get older, I prepare more carefully. But with the strength, I still swim, Huy Hoang discussed on the sidelines of the 2025 National Championship.
In the heart-to-heart words of this swimmer, many people will see that Huy Hoang is still very modest in achievements and always strives for better results. Looking back at his career, the young man from Quang Tri has won many Gold Medals at domestic tournaments, participated in the SEA Games, ASIAD, World Championship, Olympic 2020, Olympic 2024, and Youth Olympic 2021.
This player shared: "I didn't think I was a good swimmer at all. I still focus on professional training to swim well in every tournament. At this year's Asian Championship, I witnessed many young athletes participating. Or there are also many experienced athletes participating. I see that everyone focuses on their expertise, so everyone plays when they are strong enough.
When asked Huy Hoang about his future plans if he finishes playing with high achievements, the player expressed that it was something that had not been taken into account. Because in the immediate future, Huy Hoang is determined to conquer new heights when he has the opportunity to participate. After many years of participating in tournaments for high-performance swimming, Huy Hoang has concluded that the most important point is that he has to strive. The player said that there were times when he fell into a period of professional difficulty, causing his performance to be unsatisfactory.
In the most difficult times, I told myself that I was not satisfied with what I had. As well as, the determination cannot be lost. I have teachers and friends who encourage me actively, so I have overcome many difficult times, Nguyen Huy Hoang shared.
Seeking opportunities to win the 2025 Victory Cup
On November 5, Nguyen Huy Hoang from Vietnam went to China for training. This is a training program developed by the Vietnam Swimming Team for a group of key athletes, including Nguyen Huy Hoang, aiming to achieve the best expertise to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games in December in Thailand.
Two years ago at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia, Huy Hoang had the opportunity to become the first male athlete to win 4 Gold Medals. Unfortunately, the player was not successful and won 3 Gold Medals and 1 Bronze Medal.
I want to keep myself as comfortable as possible with the 33rd SEA Games. Therefore, the coaches are helping me relieve the pressure. If you only focus on medal results, your Invisible self will face invisible barriers. I have learned a big lesson and have experience from competing in Cambodia, Nguyen Huy Hoang added.
The prestigious medals at the 33rd SEA Games are certainly the goal that Huy Hoang and the Vietnamese Swimming Team are aiming for. However, in the heart, swimming professionals are very hopeful that this swimmer can achieve the title at the 2025 Victory Cup of Vietnamese sports.
Up to now, Nguyen Huy Hoang has had many remarkable results such as: Gold Medal at the 2025 Asian Championship, Gold Medal at the 2025 Southeast Asian Open Water Championship. According to the coaching staff of the Vietnam Swimming Team, this swimmer was proposed to receive the Second Class Labor Medal from the above competition results. However, the proposal is being implemented and if this is successful, Huy Hoang will have one of the most effective years in his professional career.
In 2017, Nguyen Huy Hoang presented the Southeast Asian Games with a Gold Medal (1500m freestyle) at the 29th SEA Games held in Malaysia. At the age of 17, Huy Hoang shared very freely right at the swimming pool of the 29th SEA Games: I was very surprised to win the Gold Medal. I will definitely call home to share this joy as soon as I get into my room.
After that moment, the name Nguyen Huy Hoang became one of the best Vietnamese male swimmers at the SEA Games. The male athlete won the Gold Medal at the 30th SEA Games in 2019, the 31st SEA Games in 2022 and the 32nd SEA Games in 2023.
Each award brings me unforgettable memories. And I am sure, I always know more than the teachers who have trained me during my training process, Nguyen Huy Hoang expressed.
In a month, Nguyen Huy Hoang will return home and then leave for Thailand to enter the competition journey of the 33rd SEA Games.
