Vietnam Swimming towards SEA Games 33

Swimmer Nguyen Quang Thuan. (Photo: INDEPENDENCE)

According to the direction of the Vietnam Sports Administration, swimming continues to be one of the key sports of Vietnam at the 33rd SEA Games.

After the 32nd congress, our swimming team only won 7 gold medals in swimming, this time the target was adjusted to at least 6 gold medals. Although lower than the previous congress, experts said this was a reasonable level because competitors in the region are investing heavily, making the competition more fierce.

In the list of 23 players gathered, many faces have affirmed their position in the regional arena and continue to be the great hope of the country's swimming.

Nguyen Huy Hoang - Vietnam's current number one swimmer has won 5 gold medals at the SEA Games, holding the Games record in the men's 400m freestyle with a time of 3 minutes 48 seconds 06 (SEA Games 31).

Huy Hoang also just had a test at the 2025 Southeast Asian Long Distance Swimming Championship, as part of the preparation plan for the 10km long distance event and affirmed his strength with a Gold Medal.

Along with that is Tran Hung Nguyen - the "Mixed King" of Southeast Asia, who won the individual mixed gold medal at the last two consecutive SEA Games. With his stable performance and youthfulness, Hung Nguyen is expected to continue to successfully defend his championship title.

Pham Thanh Bao - the number one athlete in the men's 100m and 200m breaststroke, broke two records at the 32nd SEA Games. Nguyen Thuy Hien - a promising young athlete, only 17 years old but has broken four Southeast Asian age group records, winning 7 gold medals. Thuy Hien is considered the "golden unknown" of Vietnamese women's swimming at the upcoming 33rd SEA Games.

Other young faces such as Vo Thi My Tien, Mai Tran Tuan Anh, Pham Thi Van or Luong Jérémie are making strong progress, promising to create more surprises and depth of force.

The Vietnamese swimming team is currently practicing in groups in the cities of Ho Chi Minh , Da Nang, and Can Tho with specialized training plans for each distance group.

The coaching staff also includes Brazilian expert Gustavo, in charge of the core group of athletes to improve their technical and physical abilities according to international standards from the beginning of 2025.

Besides domestic training, athletes attending the 2025 World Youth Championships in Romania help the group of young athletes compete at a high level.

Next October, the team will compete in the 2025 Asian Championship in India, an important test before going to Thailand. In addition, nutrition, recovery and sports science are emphasized. Physical parameters and performance are recorded and analyzed regularly, helping to adjust the training plan accordingly.

Despite careful preparation, the Vietnamese swimming team still faces many difficulties, especially when rivals on the green track such as Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines are making strong investments.

In terms of international performance, some of Vietnam's top athletes have reached Olympic B standards, but to reach the top group in Asia, more time and regular international exposure are needed.

Although domestic technical infrastructure conditions have improved, many localities still lack standard training swimming pools and modern analytical equipment systems.

The pressure of achievement and youth training with the problem of balancing short-term goals (SEA Games gold medal) and long-term strategies (aiming at ASIAD, Olympics) is still a big challenge for the coaching staff in conditions of low investment budget.

The bright spot of Vietnamese swimming is the emergence of a promising next generation. Achievements at Southeast Asian and world youth tournaments show that the generation of athletes born between 2006 and 2008 are making rapid progress. If properly invested, they can completely follow in the footsteps of their seniors in the next few years, such as Huy Hoang, Thanh Bao, and Hung Nguyen.

SEA Games 33 is therefore not only a medal battle, but also an opportunity to test the maturity of young athletes, preparing for a new development cycle.

SEA Games 33 will be a big challenge for Vietnamese swimming, but also an opportunity to affirm its position and shape its future. If the key players maintain their form, young athletes develop their full potential, and the whole team overcomes the pressure of competition, swimming can absolutely bring glorious moments, contributing to the gold medal of achievements of the country's sports.

Nhandan.vn

Source: https://nhandan.vn/boi-viet-nam-huong-toi-sea-games-33-post908564.html