Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu: From a broken neck injury to an Asian silver medal

Having suffered a serious neck injury at the prime of her career, athlete Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu overcame everything to prove her talent in the Vietnamese gymnastics team.

Quynh Nhu overcame difficult circumstances and a broken neck injury to one day bring glory to Vietnamese gymnastics - Photo: NVCC

Last June, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu made history when she won a silver medal at the 2025 Asian Gymnastics Championships in the vault event. Thereby ending the 13-year medal drought for Vietnamese female gymnasts in the continental arena.

The success at the Asian tournament was a big surprise for Quynh Nhu as well as the Vietnamese Gymnastics team. Before that, she had never won a SEA Games gold medal and was considered to have no prospects when she was young.

Difficult family circumstances

Quynh Nhu was born in 1998 in Ho Chi Minh City. No one in her family followed sports and she encountered many difficulties on her way to becoming a professional gymnast. Her father worked as a motorbike repairman and her mother worked as a nanny. Her parents separated when Quynh Nhu was only 6 years old. That was also the time when Quynh Nhu was studying at Phan Van Tri Primary School and was selected to join the Tran Hung Dao Gymnastics Club - the leading unit of Ho Chi Minh City Gymnastics.

"At that time, I was very skinny and weak. Maybe that's why the teachers chose me to go to gymnastics. Each school only selected a few students. I felt happy so I decided to go to practice," Quynh Nhu started the conversation with Tuoi Tre.

Every day, Quynh Nhu went to school in the morning and went to practice in the evening, as regular as clockwork. But after a year, she had to stop unexpectedly. When her parents separated, Nhu's mother had to work far away, and her grandmother was old and in poor health so she could not pick her up and drop her off like before. The long period of not practicing almost made Nhu give up.

Quynh Nhu's sudden and unexplained absence left the coaches at the center stunned. Nhu's direct coach had to search for her, but couldn't find her because... she was given the wrong address.

"Recalling that incident, I also find it funny and feel sorry for her. At that time, I was too young to remember my home address correctly," Quynh Nhu said.

Quynh Nhu (left cover) on the podium receiving the Asian silver medal - Photo: NVCC

After a year of seeing her daughter bored because she couldn't practice, Quynh Nhu's mother decided to take her daughter to the center to ask to practice again and the coaching staff agreed. As for her, she quit her job as a nanny and bought a motorbike to sell drinks to make a living so that she could be more proactive in taking her daughter to school and to practice gymnastics.

"Later, when I grew up a bit, I was officially recruited into the Ho Chi Minh City Gymnastics team so I had a salary and money to help my mother," Quynh Nhu said.

Quynh Nhu lived with her mother for most of her youth and lacked her father's affection. Being a typical "crybaby" girl, she cried often whenever things didn't go her way at school or at the club.

"I wanted to quit many times because training was too hard. There were many times I was kicked out of class by the coaching staff because I practiced poorly. Standing at a corner watching my classmates practice, I sometimes felt sorry for myself. In the group, I was considered to have no talent," Quynh Nhu emotionally recalled.

But that is part of the growing up process not only for Quynh Nhu but also for many other gymnasts. Loving her mother, Nhu put aside failures and criticisms to strive to overcome herself, gradually meet the requirements of her teachers and stay in the club. "Indeed, I practiced very poorly before. But I knew my family's economy was not good, so I tried every day to help my mother," Quynh Nhu said.

Quynh Nhu aims to win a gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand this December - Photo: NVCC

The shock of 15 years old

In 2013, on an unlucky day, Quynh Nhu suffered a serious injury after a somersault. The landing was not as expected, leaving the young girl unable to get up. When taken to the hospital for examination, Quynh Nhu was diagnosed with a fracture of the C6 - C7 cervical vertebrae.

"That injury was the most serious, making me think I might have to retire. Luckily, I didn't have to have surgery. After a year of physical therapy, I was able to return to normal," Quynh Nhu said.

At the prime age for gymnastics, Quynh Nhu suffered a broken neck and had to sit out for treatment, leaving her depressed for months. However, this break from training also made the young girl think more about her career. As she gradually recovered, she became more determined to return to the top.

"Putting aside the thought of retiring, that's when I wanted to aim for achievements instead of just practicing for a salary like before. I also consider TDDC as a way for me to bring my parents back together and reconnect the family. In recent years, my parents have met each other more often," Quynh Nhu said emotionally.

After recovering from her injury, Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu was sent to participate in the 2016 Southeast Asian School Games and won gold medal in the equestrian event. It was a very beautiful memory in her life, Nhu shared.

In 2022, Quynh Nhu won the silver medal at the 31st SEA Games for the first time at home. She would have had the chance to change the color of the medal at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023, but unfortunately, the host country, Cambodia, cut the women's gymnastics from the competition program of the games.

Last June, the silver medal that Quynh Nhu brought home from Asia brought glory to Vietnamese Gymnastics. Quynh Nhu's silver medal also helped revive the hope of Vietnamese women's Gymnastics in regional and continental competitions after many years of very limited achievements.

This December, Quynh Nhu will attend the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand. She said that the Asian silver medal is the motivation for her to bring home her first SEA Games gold medal in the regional arena.

NGOC LE

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguyen-thi-quynh-nhu-tu-chan-thuong-gay-co-den-hcb-chau-a-20250713225835158.htm