Anh Vien competed in the triathlon, which included a 1 km swim, a 5 km run, and a 20 km bike ride.

For the swim segment, the former swimmer from Can Tho took only 10 minutes 20 seconds, achieving a pace of 1:22.

Anh Vien finishes in the 25-29 age group at the Sunrise Sprint triathlon on the morning of 15/11 in Phu Quoc. *Photo: Sunrise Sprint*

She completed the bike segment in 40 minutes 43 seconds, maintaining an average speed of 29,6 km/h. The run segment took 22 minutes 34 seconds, with a pace of 4:2. This marks a significant improvement compared to her initial running pace of 10 minutes per km.

Anh Vien's total completion time for all segments was 1 hour 18 minutes 47 seconds, placing her 14th overall in the individual category, second among all women, and first in the 25-29 age group.

On running and Ironman forums, many members praised the Vietnamese swimming record holder. This recognition is partly due to Anh Vien not specializing in training for these events, as she currently focuses on teaching swimming to children.

The former swimmer stated that she primarily brought her students to compete this time and wanted to challenge herself without setting high goals. "I view this as a wonderful experience", Anh Vien said.

Following the individual event, Anh Vien will participate in the team event on 16/11 with Nguyen Van Long and Quang Nguyen. Vien will swim 1,9 km, while "di nhan" Long will run 21 km, and Quang will cycle 90 km.

Anh Vien's certificate of achievement.

Anh Vien, 29, is considered a Vietnamese swimming legend. During her 10-year career, she earned 150 medals, including 25 gold medals at the Sea Games, one silver and one bronze medal at the Asian championships, two bronze medals at the Asiad, a Youth Olympic gold medal, a gold medal at the World Military Games, and a silver medal at the World Cup.

After retiring in 2022, Anh Vien became involved in community activities and started working as a swimming coach. She previously shared that she is happy with her current life, having more time for self-care and new hobbies like makeup, beauty routines, fashion styling, and healthy eating. She also models, attends brand events, and posts videos sharing swimming techniques on her personal page.

Duc Dong