In the women's walking event at the 33rd SEA Games, athlete Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc could not complete the competition when she was forced to stop at the 11th km due to a recurrent and exhausted injury. The female athlete was then taken care of by the medical team right on the track.
Sharing after the incident, the "walking queen" of Vietnam Athletics sent her apologies and gratitude to the leaders, coaching staff and fans for always trusting and accompanying her. I would like to bow my head and sincerely apologize to the leaders, teachers, coaching staff and fans who have trusted, accompanied and expected me at the 33rd SEA Games, Thanh Phuc said.
Thanh Phuc said that the old injury recurred right from the 5th km, but still tried hard to compete with all the will and responsibility of an athlete wearing the national team jersey. Thanh Phuc said: I have tried to stick to the 11th km with all the will, responsibility and self-respect of an athlete wearing the national shirt. But my body did not allow me to continue. I fainted and could not complete the distance - the most painful thing in my playing career.
The female athlete born in 1990 also expressed her feelings of being unable to respond to the expectations of those always behind: "I am sad, I feel sorry and I am devastated. Not because of achievements, but because they have not been able to fully respond to faith and expectations".
The "Queen of Walking" emphasized her spirit of not giving up and wanting to return: "I will stand up, heal and return - for the love of sports, for the color of the flag and for the hearts that have never turned their backs on me".
Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc is a monument of Vietnamese and Southeast Asian athletics in the women's walking event, with 19 national championships, 5 SEA Games gold medals and participating in the 2012 London Olympics. Her decision to stop at the 33rd SEA Games left many regrets, but she also received great sympathy and encouragement from experts and fans.
