However, few people know that this beautiful girl still has to face pain from a knee injury every day.
Injury is… let injury be.
Huynh Thi My Tien had to overcome knee pain every day to win the 32nd SEA Games gold medal. Photo: Bui Luong
The 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia saw many Vietnamese athletes step into the spotlight, one of which was women's 100m hurdles champion Huynh Thi My Tien.
After two empty SEA Games, the girl from Vinh Long has tasted the feeling of victory.
“Until now, I still feel elated, happy and a little surprised. Before the competition, I was completely confident but also worried because I knew I had to face many strong opponents, including Ms. Nguyen (SEA Games 31 champion Bui Thi Nguyen). Luckily, I was in good form and condition on the day of the competition, so I finished first,” My Tien confided.
One noteworthy detail is that the girl born in 1999 played with her right knee wrapped in bandages. It turned out that she had suffered a knee injury since 2020 but could not completely cure it.
“The doctor said if I wanted to be cured, I would have to give up my career. If I tried to cure it and then ran away, I wouldn't be able to recover.
But how could I run away when I considered it my lifeblood? I accepted the gamble because the risk of more serious injury was always lurking.
Having said that, at first I was very depressed, feeling like everything was against me.
On the contrary, the teachers always encouraged that once you have gone halfway, you should not turn back. If you can still run, if you still have the desire, then stand up and keep going," Tien confided.
The SEA Games champion added that due to a knee injury, she had to limit jumping exercises, but basically when running, especially hurdling, the intensity of knee activity is still very high.
Therefore, the 24-year-old female athlete often has to inject her own blood to maintain her mobility.
“There was a training session when my knee hurt like it was about to fall off. Then when the weather changed, it felt like someone had hit me.
Every time like that I grit my teeth and endure, not complaining to anyone, overcoming everything by myself.
The next morning, I felt better and went to practice as usual," Tien said, adding that due to the nature of running, in addition to her knees, her back was also injured. Some days, the pain was so bad that she even had to lie on her side.
Despite the difficulties and hardships, the Western girl never thought of giving up the path she had chosen.
“I was determined to overcome the pain to practice and was somewhat rewarded with the SEA Games 32 gold medal. Of course, this is not the end of the journey, I will continue to strive to overcome my own limits,” she said.
Anyone who meets Tien in real life is impressed by her pretty appearance and white skin. This surprises us because she has to be exposed to the sun and rain all year round to practice and compete.
Girl of many styles
Born and raised in Vinh Long, in a family with no sports tradition, Tien did not play any sports since childhood. However, she has a good height, always taller than her classmates.
In 2011, during a military recruitment trip, the coaches of Vinh Long Sports Training Center saw Tien's potential.
After a trial run, she received an immediate nod. Her long strides helped her leave her competitors behind. Passing the intensive test, she was officially accepted into the Vinh Long athletics team.
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The 100m hurdles event is extremely difficult for Vietnamese athletics. In the history of the SEA Games, we have only won a total of 4 gold medals. My Tien is one of the few athletes who have achieved this. In Tien's case, in addition to her speed, I think she has a very good hurdle rhythm. In addition, her diligence, perseverance and fearlessness have helped Tien reap sweet rewards.
Expert Dang Viet Cuong
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At that time, although she had no idea what professional sports were or what athletics were like, the 12-year-old girl was still eager to try her hand. Unfortunately, her parents wanted her to focus on her studies so that she could find a stable, non-hard-working job in the future.
“At first, my parents strongly objected, saying that their daughter shouldn’t focus on studying and running around. But I don’t know what motivated me at that time, but I kept begging my parents to let me join the team, even crying.
Then my father agreed but with a condition, if I suffer, I will come back to him. Knowing that my parents love me, if I get injured in the future, I will hide it, afraid that my family will worry," the SEA Games champion said.
Training in Vinh Long, My Tien progressed rapidly, winning many achievements in national and international youth competitions, so she was soon recruited into the national youth athletics team in 2015. Continuing her progress, in 2018 she was promoted to the national team.
But as mentioned above, glory at the SEA Games arena always eluded her until the Games in Cambodia.
“Many times I thought, should I accept to maintain a career like this forever? I have to create a highlight for people to mention. So I threw myself into training with the belief that I could do it.
So, when I won the SEA Games gold medal, I felt so relieved, as if a heavy stone had been lifted from my mind. My parents even cried on the phone when I told them the news,” Tien shared.
Since going to Hanoi to train at the National Sports Training Center, Tien only comes home once a year during Tet for a few days and then gets back into the routine.
After the 32nd SEA Games, she also started training because the 2023 ASIAD was very close. "I dare not promise anything in this tournament but I will try my best," she confided.
Most athletes come from poor families, even with financial difficulties. But Tien is the opposite, her parents own a barge that transports construction materials, so the family has enough to eat and save.
Because of that, she doesn't have to save money to send home to help her parents. On the contrary, her parents give her more money to buy supplements and functional foods.
“Overall, my life is quite comfortable, I don’t have to worry too much about saving. In addition to my salary and training regime, I also sell products online to earn some extra money.
Besides shopping for clothes and essential items, I sometimes go out to eat with my friends for a change of atmosphere. My wardrobe is very diverse in style, with all kinds of dresses and shirts,” Tien said with a smile.
Another difference about Tien is that although she has almost no time for housework, she loves cooking: "I'm not good at cooking but I love it. Every time I come home, I go into the kitchen and make this dish or that to treat the whole family.
For me, that was the most relaxing and happiest moment because I could take care of my parents and younger brother after long days of being attached to the running track."
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