Nguyen Thi Oanh: The resilient journey to reach 'Enduring Passion'

Mr. Nguyen Minh Triet - Secretary of the Central Executive Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Student Association (left); journalist Phung Cong Suong - Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong newspaper - Director of the Vietnam Young Talent Support Fund, presented the "Ben Dam Me" award to athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh. Photo: Nhu Y.

Congratulations to Nguyen Thi Oanh for being honored to receive the "Ben Passion" award presented by the Vietnam Young Talent Support Fund. How do you feel right now?

I am truly touched and proud to receive this award. True to its name and meaning, the "Enduring Passion" award is a recognition of my tireless efforts throughout my nearly two-decade journey pursuing professional sports.

I started athletics in 2008, when I was only 13 years old, and have been involved for more than 17 years now, with many difficulties, challenges, injuries, and failures, but I am always proud that I have never given up. This award is not only a meaningful milestone but also a source of motivation for me to continue striving to contribute to the country's sports.

What makes you feel most meaningful about receiving this award?

I was honored to receive the “Outstanding Young Vietnamese Faces of 2019” award from the Vietnam Young Talent Support Fund. The award honors young people with outstanding achievements and positive contributions in many fields. This year, I continue to receive another great honor from the Fund, which makes me extremely proud.

What is most meaningful to me is not only the recognition, but also the fact that my efforts can inspire people, especially young people who love sports. For me, sports are not only about competition and achievements, but also about passion, perseverance, endurance and the spirit of overcoming one's own limits. If my story can motivate someone, that is the greatest happiness.

Your journey of pursuing athletics has encountered many difficulties, so what helps you always maintain your spirit and passion?

It is the love for running and the belief in myself that I can do it. Besides, I am lucky to have a family, teachers and sports fans who love and support me. When I feel tired, injured or fail and doubt myself, I always think about the reason I started, the sacrifices of my family and the trust of teachers and fans. That is what helps me not to give up.

As an inspirational sportsperson, what message do you have for young people pursuing professional sports?

I want to tell you that success is not something that can be achieved overnight. This is a lesson that anyone who pursues professional sports understands. Every medal, every victory is the result of thousands of hours of practice, of perseverance and relentless determination.

Sports are not just a game, but also a journey of self-improvement. Every day of training is an opportunity for you to become better and stronger. Therefore, do not be discouraged if you do not achieve the desired results.

Most importantly, love what you do. When you are truly passionate, every challenge is just part of the journey. No matter what sport you pursue, or even another area of ​​life, if you are determined enough, you will find your own path.

Thanks Oanh!

Nguyen Thi Oanh was born in 1995 in Bac Giang, and started her athletics career when she was 15 years old (2010). In the early days, she was not highly regarded because she did not have the ideal physical condition to pursue sports. In 2014, when her career was developing, she discovered that she had glomerulonephritis - a disease that seriously affected her health. This disease caused her body to swell, her endurance to decline, and at one point she thought she would have to give up athletics forever. However, thanks to her strong will, she not only recovered but also returned to the track stronger than before.

Nguyen Thi Oanh has achieved a series of remarkable achievements with 1 Asian Games bronze medal, 1 Asian Indoor Athletics Championship gold medal and 12 individual gold medals at the SEA Games. Notably in 2023, at the 32nd SEA Games, she set an amazing achievement when she became the first Vietnamese athlete to win 4 individual gold medals in athletics in one SEA Games, including the feat of winning 2 gold medals in just 20 minutes.

Trong Dat (performed)

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nguyen-thi-oanh-hanh-trinh-kien-cuong-cham-toi-ben-dam-me-post1727909.tpo