Do not surrender to fate
Nguyen Thi Oanh was born into a family of 8 siblings in My Ha, Lang Giang, Bac Giang (now Bac Ninh). Having a difficult childhood, witnessing her parents working hard to take care of the whole family, Nguyen Thi Oanh nurtured the dream of a better life.
Vietnam's golden girl in athletics Nguyen Thi Oanh brings glory to the Fatherland
Photo: Independence
With the spirit of overcoming difficulties, despite her small stature, Oanh still showed her difference when competing in school, district and provincial level competitions. The runner born in 1995 remembers clearly thanks to her excellent performance in the race organized by Bac Giang Newspaper, in August 2010 she was selected to join the province's athletics talent team. The first time she left her hometown to train in the city, she was not without confusion, but by practicing and living with friends of the same age, with the enthusiastic support of the coaches, Oanh gradually felt the love and passion for athletics.
Thanks to her hard work, only 2 years later, Nguyen Thi Oanh caught the eye of the coaches of the Vietnam youth athletics team. Saying goodbye to her teachers and teammates in the provincial athletics team, Oanh went to Hanoi to join the national youth athletics team. Affirming her talent with a gold medal at the 2013 Asian Youth Championship, Nguyen Thi Oanh took another step forward when she joined the Vietnam athletics team.
When her career was on the rise, the golden girl of Vietnamese athletics received shocking news from her doctor that she had glomerulonephritis and could no longer continue to train and compete professionally in athletics.
"From the end of 2014 to almost the end of 2015 was a sad time for me. Because of illness, I had to miss the 28th SEA Games in Singapore. I thought I would have to retire early, so I fell into a crisis, sometimes thinking negatively. I was very lucky and happy to always have the care and encouragement of my family, teachers and friends, and the enthusiastic care and treatment from the doctors," Oanh shared.
Nguyen Thi Oanh overcame difficulties and illness to shine on the racetrack
Photo: Independence
Making a miracle in the international arena
Miraculously overcoming glomerulonephritis, Nguyen Thi Oanh returned to her passion for athletics in 2016.
At the 29th SEA Games in 2017, Nguyen Thi Oanh made her mark with a double gold medal in the admiration of many people. That was also the basis for her to have the honor of representing Vietnam in athletics to compete at the ASIAD. In her first time competing in the 18th ASIAD in 2018 in Indonesia, the "little pepper" of Vietnamese sports won a bronze medal in the 3,000m steeplechase with impressive performance parameters, breaking the national record.
At the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia two years ago, Nguyen Thi Oanh shone brightly when she won 4 gold medals. Notably, the sudden change in the competition schedule from the Organizing Committee forced her to compete in two distances, 1,500 m and 3,000 m obstacle course, only about 20 minutes apart, causing strong reactions from experts and fans. However, Oanh still overcame difficulties successfully, completing the quadruple for Vietnamese athletics. The French news agency AFP at that time described Nguyen Thi Oanh's performance as showing her majesty, affirming her dominance in Southeast Asian athletics. As for Oanh herself, she only sees such obstacles as a part of sports. "I tell myself never to surrender to difficulties but to turn them into motivation to conquer with all my ability," Nguyen Thi Oanh confided.
At the age of 30, Nguyen Thi Oanh can be proud of her great contribution to the success of Vietnamese athletics. Nearly 17 years since starting her athletics career, the 1.50m tall runner has brought home 12 SEA Games gold medals, 7 National Sports Festival gold medals, 39 national championship gold medals, and holds 5 national records in the 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m, half marathon (21km) and marathon (42km).
Nguyen Thi Oanh is brave on the 3,000m obstacle race track.
Photo: Independence
The golden girl of Vietnamese athletics was honored to be voted the National Outstanding Athlete in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. She was also honored to receive the Second Class Labor Medal in 2022, 2023; Third Class Labor Medal in 2018, 2019; many certificates of merit from the Prime Minister, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Central Youth Union, the Vietnam Youth Union, the Vietnam Olympic Committee...
"There is no path paved with roses. I hope that young people will always be persistent, courageous and make breakthroughs on their own path; dare to dream, dare to aspire and dare to conquer. I am always proud that I was born and raised in Vietnam," Nguyen Thi Oanh said, inspiring young people.
Nguyen Thi Oanh's biggest goal in 2025 is to successfully defend her four gold medals at the 33rd SEA Games in December in Thailand. "Not only me but all the athletes are proud to represent Vietnam in the international arena. I am preparing well and trying to compete to the best of my ability to contribute to the country's sports," Nguyen Thi Oanh shared.
The extraordinary little student
Coach Tran Van Sy, who is associated with the name of "athletics queen" Nguyen Thi Oanh, confided: "My student has extraordinary determination. She always seriously implements the training programs I give her, and is very self-conscious in her daily activities, rest, and recovery. Despite her small body, Oanh has an extremely healthy cardiovascular system, thanks to which she can endure high intensity and compete well in many events from medium to long distance."
Coach Tran Van Sy added: "The most memorable moment in Oanh's career up to this point is the bronze medal at the 2018 ASIAD in the 3,000m steeplechase, with an extremely impressive performance of 9 minutes 43 seconds 83 - also surpassing the national record. The teacher and student were overjoyed to have this achievement after a hard training process. Another memorable moment is Oanh's miracle of winning 4 gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games in 2023 under harsh competition conditions. The day Oanh completed her 4th gold medal for Vietnamese athletics on May 12 was also my birthday and for me this is an extremely precious and meaningful gift."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nu-hoang-dien-kinh-nguyen-thi-oanh-the-thao-thay-doi-cuoc-doi-toi-185250828194443815.htm
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