On the afternoon of December 15 in Thailand, Vietnam's athletics received good news when Quach Thi Lan won the gold medal in the women's 400m hurdles at the 33rd SEA Games.
In the final round, Quach Thi Lan maintained a stable run for most of the distance before accelerating strongly in the last 100m. She overcame fierce competition from opponents Thailand and the Philippines to finish first with a time of 56 seconds 82.
This result helped Quach Thi Lan step onto the highest podium in the presence of a large audience, concluding her long wait journey at the SEA Games arena.
Sharing after winning the gold medal Quach Thi Lan said: Before competing, I just told myself to run my best, true to my abilities. Throughout the race, I always believe that I am doing a very good job to bring the gold medal to Vietnam's athletics and sports". The female athlete also mentioned the companionship and trust of coach Vu Ngoc Loi throughout the preparation and competition process.
For Quach Thi Lan, the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games has a special meaning. Although she has attended many regional conventions, she admitted that this is an unforgettable milestone in her career. The female athlete born in 1995 emotionally shared: Although I have participated in many SEA Games, this is the SEA Games that has the greatest significance for me as it marks my return. I think this is the last SEA Games I will participate in.
Quach Thi Lan could not hide her regret when thinking about the time leaving the top race track. However, she affirmed that she will continue to be associated with Vietnam Athletics in another role in the future: I also regret not being able to continue competing with everyone, but in a new position, I will always accompany and support Vietnam Athletics, training new generation talented athletes to compete in the next SEA Games and ASIAD. Hopefully one day I will become a coach like Mr. Vu Ngoc Loi".
The gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games is not only a reward for Quach Thi Lan's individual efforts, but also has great spiritual significance for Vietnam's athletics in the transfer period. This victory shows the strong return of one of the typical faces, and at the same time, Quach Thi Lan's journey to compete in the SEA Games ended with a beautiful, emotional mark.
