On the morning of June 25, at the Advanced Typical Conference for the period 2020-2025, Nguyen Thi Oanh - the reigning SEA Games 32 champion in four distances - shared her emotions about the journey from the school sports movement to the position of athletics star.
The female athlete from Bac Giang recalled the first steps of her 4th grade when she was discovered by her teacher to have the talent to run, but it was not until grade 8 that she officially competed at the district and provincial level.
The Bac Giang Newspaper Run is an event that paves the way for Oanh to become a high-performance athlete. In August 2010, she was officially admitted directly to the Bac Giang Sports Training and Competition Center.
"At first, I just found it fun and enjoyable. Gradually, the passion grew and I wanted to challenge myself every day," Nguyen Thi Oanh recalled about her first period of practice.
In 2012, Oanh was called up to the Vietnam youth team at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi, continuing to receive professional training and guidance from good coaches.
She has won many achievements such as the Asian youth gold medal, the silver medal at the 27th SEA Games. In 2014, when she first entered the national team, Oanh had to temporarily stop because of nephritis, and missed the 28th SEA Games.
"Thanks to my family, teachers and care at the Post Office Hospital, I have overcome difficulties to return to the running track." she confided.
The 29 2017 SEA Games became a major turning point when Oanh won two gold medals. She continued to make history at the 2018 ASIAD with a bronze medal and broke the national record for the 3,000m obstacle course event.
Since then, Oanh has continued to reap 12 SEA Games gold medals, 7 gold medals and 1 silver medal at the National Sports Festival, 39 national gold medals and holds 5 national records.
Outstanding achievements have helped Nguyen Thi Oanh continuously be honored as a National Outstanding Athlete in 2019-2023, many times awarded the Third and Second Class Labor Medals, along with a series of certificates of merit from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the People's Committee of Bac Giang province, the Vietnam Olympic Committee...
After many years of training at the National Sports Training Center, Oanh said that she not only received professional training but also learned essential soft skills. Thats what makes me strong, confident, and overcome difficulties and injuries.
Regarding the spirit of sportsmanship, Oanh sent a message to the younger generation: "There is no road full of roses. Be persistent, brave and constantly break through. dare to dream, dare to desire and dare to conquer".
