From a highland girl to a national athletics record
Every day, at exactly 4:30 am, Hoang Mui Nhan girl and nearly 20 other friends in the athletics class of the Cao Bang Province Sports and Arts Competition Center wake up to start the day with a morning run with a distance of 12 to 15km.
In the afternoon, students continue to do intensive physical exercises to improve speed and endurance.
Born into a farming family in Huy Giap commune (formerly Dinh Phung commune, Bao Lac district), Hoang Mui Nhe is the second child in a family of three siblings.
The 16-year-old girl had no intention of pursuing a sports career, until a Center coach discovered her talent.
Receiving encouragement from his family, Rham decided to leave his hometown and pursue his dream of athletics - a brave decision at a very young age.
After more than two years of hard work at the Center, during the competition at the 2025 National Youth Athletics Championship (held in Lai Chau province), Nhat and athletes Ly Mui Sau, Ban Thi Xuan, Trieu Thi Binh competed excellently in the women's relay event 1.200m - 400m - 800m - 1,600m, finishing with a total time of 12 minutes 38 seconds 04.
This achievement not only brought home a prestigious Gold Medal but also broke the old record set in 2024 by the Quang Tri provincial athletics delegation (13 minutes 52 seconds 69).
"At first, we just thought we would try our best. Unexpectedly, not only did I finish first but I also broke the record, Nhan shared in extreme happiness.
The journey of hard work
The Cao Bang Province Sports and Art Training and Competition Center was established in 2019 on the basis of merging the Sports Training and Competition Center with the School of Artistic and Sports.
Currently, the Center is a place for accommodation, study and training for more than 100 young athletes from localities in the province.
With limited facilities, the Center's coaching staff is still persistent in traveling to remote communes to select talented children. "Searching for sports talent is like a 'sand in search of gold'.
Although they are talented, when coming to the Center, they are just rough gems, needing a lot of time to train to mature" - Mr. Nong The Hien, Deputy Director of the Center said.
He also shared that when the Center discovers athletes with higher development potential, it will create conditions for them to be sent to train in places with better conditions, such as Bac Ninh.
Not only in athletics, Cao Bang sports have also achieved many successes in the international arena. At the Southeast Asian Jujitsu Youth Championship and Championships held in Manila (Philippines) from July 10 to 14, athletes from the host province won a total of 9 medals, including 4 gold medals.
Phung Mui Nhinh - a Jujitsu athlete from Bao Lam commune - is one of the typical faces. Having come to the Center since 2019 and not thinking that one day she would represent Cao Bang in the regional arena.
When I won the medals, I was very happy. After so much effort, sweat and tears, I finally got recognized, Nhinh emotionally shared.
Behind the successes is a journey of many challenges, especially for young athletes such as Phung Mui Nhinh, Hoang Mui Nhe and many other athletes who have to be away from home, overcome injuries and pressure.
"There were times when I was tired and injured, my parents called to ask, my mother heard that I was crying a lot because I was in pain. At that time, I could only tell myself to try harder to play well, bringing joy to my parents, Nhinh said.
Sharing more with reporters, Deputy Director of the Noong The Hien Agricultural Center said: "Compared to other provinces, Cao Bang sports are not really outstanding, but the achievements that students have achieved in the first half of 2025 are very encouraging".
According to him, it is the result of the persistent efforts of the athletes and coaches and an indispensable factor is the active support of local leaders.
