“Little Mermaid” and the inspirational journey of swimming

VHO - Nearly 4 years after retiring, the life of “little mermaid” Nguyen Thi Anh Vien may no longer include competitions away from home or the cheers of victory, but it has opened a journey to sow seeds for the next generation and inspire swimming in the community. In the hearts of Vietnamese sports fans, Anh Vien is not only the “green race queen” but also a symbol of aspiration and will to rise.

Anh Vien's swimming inspiration journey always receives a lot of support from young people. Photo: FBNV

Efforts to create "steel" will

In December 2021, when Anh Vien officially retired from the national swimming team, the Vietnamese sports world seemed to fall silent. Many people felt regretful, but also understood that a glorious journey had come to an end. After nearly a decade of dedication, Anh Vien left behind a huge "legacy", not only in the number of medals but also in the inspiration and pride she brought to her fans.

From a little girl from the Can Tho river region, Anh Vien has risen to become the number 1 female swimmer in Southeast Asia, bringing great pride to the country's sports and strongly inspiring many generations of young athletes. Born in 1996 in a military family, Anh Vien came to swimming quite by chance. Realizing that her daughter had special qualities, her family created conditions for her to pursue a sports career. At the age of 15, Anh Vien was called up to the national team, marking the beginning of a difficult but also glorious journey.

Anh Vien’s career is a living testament to her extraordinary determination and will. During her training years, she had to accept being away from her family, celebrating Tet in a foreign land, and “diving” dozens of kilometers in the pool every day. There was a time when Anh Vien trained with a harsh intensity of up to 10 hours a day. Those silent sacrifices created the foundation for her later resounding success.

Anh Vien's journey is a beautiful story about sports - where will, belief and sacrifice create success. From a small river in the West to Olympic swimming pools, Anh Vien has proven that, with determination and perseverance, all dreams can come true. The greatest legacy that Anh Vien left behind is the flame of passion that burns forever in the hearts of generations of young Vietnamese athletes. Anh Vien may not own an Olympic or world medal, but in the hearts of her fans, she is a champion. Her career is like a book full of glorious pages, with a gentle but not bland ending.

In the memories of many people, the image of Anh Vien crying under the blue water, or the proud moment standing on the highest podium, will forever be a beautiful symbol of Vietnamese sports. Retirement is not the end, but the beginning of a new journey, a journey to continue to sow faith and nurture dreams for young talents.

Continue for the new journey

Anh Vien once said about her decision to retire: “When I decided to stop, I spent a lot of time thinking. During my time as an athlete, my coach told me that whatever I do, I have to consider carefully. I chose to stop to start a new chapter by teaching swimming, so I just tried my best, without any regrets.”

Although she has left the top sport, Anh Vien still continues to swim. She is still attached to the pool, but in a different role, a teacher and an inspiration. The female swimmer shares her desire to train and guide the next generation, because "without continuity, any success is only temporary". Therefore, she participates in training at local sports centers, contributing to building the foundation for young swimmers. With the experience of an athlete who has trained in an international environment, Anh Vien is expected to bring a new wind to the way of training young Vietnamese athletes.

Anh Vien’s life also shows a precious balance. Many years of training away from home meant she rarely had time to live for herself. Now, the female swimmer has time to explore simple hobbies such as reading, taking photos, and traveling.

On her personal page, fans saw a more radiant, gentle and feminine Anh Vien, not just the image of a strong, disciplined girl on the race track. Anh Vien shared that after retiring from her career, she lives more comfortably because now she has more time to teach swimming, work with children and take care of herself and her family.

Her life became easier, no longer constrained by the framework as before. In the morning she went to graduate school, in the afternoon she taught swimming, considering teaching a joy.

“Opening a swimming class has been my dream since I was a competitive athlete. I always hoped that one day I would have a program to teach children in the most systematic way.

When people understand the first steps to learning to swim and what is best for them, they will understand that swimming is not a difficult sport to get into,” Anh Vien said.

One notable point is that even though she is away from competition, Anh Vien still maintains her regular training habit. This former swimmer considers sports an indispensable part of life, helping to maintain health and clarity. This is also the message she wants to send to young people: Sports are not only for achievement, but also to build a healthy, steadfast and resilient lifestyle.

What is special is that every time she appears in public, Anh Vien still receives affection from fans. That love comes not only from her golden record of achievements but also from the image of a humble and sincere person.

Her simple lifestyle after retirement makes the "green racing queen" more approachable and ordinary, and thus continues to inspire strongly.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/tieu-tien-ca-va-hanh-trinh-truyen-cam-hung-boi-loi-165275.html