Nguyen Thi Oanh was once depressed by illness, now receives the Enduring Passion Award

The golden girl of Vietnamese athletics, Nguyen Thi Oanh, has just received the Enduring Passion Award. She was devastated when she had to stop competing and fight illness to continue pursuing her passion.

Track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh shared that she was devastated when she had to leave the track to receive medical treatment - Photo: Organizing Committee

Nguyen Thi Oanh had to stop competing.

Track and field athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh shared her story of having to stop competing to treat her glomerulonephritis at the Enduring Passion Award ceremony. The award was organized by the Vietnam Young Talent Support Fund (Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union).

Among the applications for the award, Nguyen Thi Oanh stands out with a series of impressive achievements in the field of sports. She is a leading track and field athlete in Vietnam.

Impressive achievements of Nguyen Thi Oanh

Oanh owns 13 SEA Games gold medals through the tournaments, the most notable of which is the 32nd SEA Games (2023) in Cambodia, where she became the first athlete in history to win 4 individual gold medals (1,500m, 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m and 10,000m).

Notably, Nguyen Thi Oanh completed the 1,500m and 3,000m obstacle races only 20 minutes apart, demonstrating extraordinary endurance and will.

She also holds many national records in distances such as 3,000m steeplechase, 5,000m, 10,000m, half marathon (21km) and marathon (42km), with the latest achievement being 2 hours 44 minutes 20 seconds at the 2024 Hanoi International Marathon.

In addition, she won a bronze medal at the 2018 Asian Games and a 1,500m gold medal at the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships.

Nguyen Thi Oanh shared that she got into athletics because she was a troublemaker when she was in school and loved running. She started running when she was in 8th grade. In 2014, Nguyen Thi Oanh faced glomerulonephritis, forcing her to temporarily stop competing for treatment.

"That day everything seemed to collapse before my eyes," Oanh shared. "Thanks to the encouragement of my parents and friends, I persevered and got back on track."

Oanh’s tireless efforts not only bring personal glory, but also contribute to raising the position of Vietnamese athletics in the regional and international arena. She has become a role model of determination and will, encouraging the younger generation to pursue their passion and overcome challenges in life.

Secretary of the Central Youth Union Nguyen Minh Triet presents the award to athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh - Photo: Organizing Committee

The Passionate Award was initiated with the aim of honoring young people who dare to step out of their comfort zone, accept challenges to pursue their dreams.

This year's Ben Passion Award, the organizing committee received 17 nominations in the fields of social activities, culture - arts, business - startups, physical education - sports and 13 science - technology projects.

The jury selected 6 outstanding individuals, projects and 5 outstanding scientific projects to award.

Among the honored faces, there are young faces that stand out with the will to overcome challenges, perseverance with passion, and contribution to society.

One example is Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tam, a girl who has to spend her whole life in a wheelchair due to brittle bone disease. She has spent 21 years supporting disadvantaged children with free classes.

Athlete Nguyen Thi Oanh overcame glomerulonephritis to become the "golden girl" of Vietnamese athletics. Young PhD Pham Huy Hieu developed artificial intelligence (AI) applications in a stroke project...

Young girl self-nominated and won the Ben award for her passion in business and startups

Nguyen My Linh, a young girl from Tua Chua (Dien Bien), applied for the award and excellently received the 'Passionate Enduring' award in the field of business - startups.

Brittle bone girl Nguyen Thi Ngoc Tam was honored for 21 years of free teaching for poor children - Photo: VU TUAN

My Linh's project helps poor people in Tua Chua, Dien Bien not only preserve the ancient Shan Tuyet tea population but also helps people earn more income and build a specialty brand of this poor highland district. She has helped hundreds of Mong households have a stable livelihood from tea trees.

My Linh said her family was originally from Thai Binh and moved to Tua Chua to start a business in the 1960s. Her grandparents and parents were attached to tea trees, and the family tradition made her determined to stay in Tua Chua, both to preserve the ancient tea plantation and to research processing and find markets.

From a forgotten tea region, the ancient Shan Tuyet tea brand Tua Chua has now conquered the domestic market and begun exporting.

"Thanks to my parents' help and inspiration, I have the motivation to pursue my dream. I decided to commit my life to that tea region. I dream of changing that tea region from a forgotten tea region to a world-class tea region" - My Linh said.

Mr. Phung Cong Suong, editor-in-chief of Tien Phong newspaper and director of the Vietnam Young Talent Support Fund , affirmed that the award honors individuals and inspires the spirit of creativity and social responsibility of the young generation.

"The projects and individuals honored and awarded today have special significance, not only demonstrating creativity, perseverance and determination to conquer new achievements, but also contributing to solving urgent problems in today's life," said Mr. Suong.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/nguyen-thi-oanh-tung-suy-sup-vi-benh-tat-nay-nhan-giai-thuong-ben-dam-me-20250325174846789.htm