"unprecedented" achievements
At the 32nd SEA Games held in Cambodia in 2023, athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh created a special milestone in the history of Vietnam's athletics. She won 4 gold medals in all 4 events including 1,500m, 3,000m hurdles, 5,000m and 10,000m.
The 2nd Congress last year was the first time Nguyen Thi Oanh competed in the 10,000m distance and won. More specifically, she completed the 1,500m and 3,000m hurdles just 20 minutes apart, which rarely happens in the international competition schedule.
After the 32nd SEA Games, Nguyen Thi Oanh continues to maintain her leading position in the Vietnamese athletics community. She dominated the national 1,500m race when she continued to win gold medals in 2023, 2024 and 2025, bringing the total number of championships in this event to 7 consecutive times.
In two other strengths, the 3,000m hurdles and 5,000m, she still maintained her high form, showing the endurance of an athlete in her 30s.
Most recently, at the 2025 National Championship, Nguyen Thi Oanh continued to affirm her strength when winning all 4 gold medals in the above events.
In addition to the official training and competition time, Nguyen Thi Oanh also participated in many domestic Marathons and international athletics competitions to maintain her form and fitness. These tournaments are not part of the professional competition system but help her practice endurance and a competitive feeling.
Preparing for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand
The 33rd SEA Games will take place in Thailand at the end of December, the athletics organizing committee has issued technical handbooks and a scheduled competition schedule. The Vietnamese athletics team focuses on the events of 1,500m, 3,000m hurdles, 5,000m and 10,000m for women, all of which are the strengths of Nguyen Thi Oanh.
According to the plan, these events will take place on December 11, 13, 15 and 16, respectively. With a long-distance competition schedule, athletes have enough time to recover their physical strength between events, much more favorable than at the 32nd SEA Games.
In her professional ability, Nguyen Thi Oanh can participate in all 4 events. However, the number of events she will compete in will be decided based on the coaching staff's tactics and the actual situation in Thailand. This choice is to ensure the highest efficiency and limit physical risks when competing consecutively.
Currently, the Vietnamese athletics team is practicing full-time domestically. The group of medium and long-term athletes, including Nguyen Thi Oanh, has no plans to train abroad.
Recently, coach Tran Van Sy and his team gathered at Tam Dao (Phu Tho), then moved to Mieu Mon (Hanoi) to complete exercises on speed and technique. The team returned to the National High-level Athletes' Training Center to enter the sprint stage before leaving for the SEA Games.
Coach Tran Van Sy said that this period mainly focuses on maintaining physical strength, adjusting speed and training the competitive mentality. With many years of experience competing internationally, Nguyen Thi Oanh has the ability to adjust her training rhythm well, regularly completing lesson plans at high intensity and maintaining a stable level.
From now until the 33rd SEA Games start, there is only about 1 month left to prepare. Nguyen Thi Oanh will continue to accumulate physical strength, while testing competition tactics for each event. Her and the coaching staff's goal is to defend the titles won at the 32nd SEA Games.
After Nguyen Thi Huyen retired, Nguyen Thi Oanh is currently the Vietnamese track and field athlete who has won the most SEA Games gold medals while competing (12 gold medals)
With experience, careful preparation and maintaining stable performance, the runner born in 1995 continues to be expected to be the main face of Vietnam's athletics at the 33rd SEA Games.
