At the tournament, which concluded on 13/8 in Da Nang, Nguyen Thi Oanh won the most gold medals with victories in the 5,000m, 1,500m, 10,000m, and 3,000m steeplechase events. This brings her total gold medal count at the National Championships to 39. Despite not setting any records, Oanh was happy to have achieved her goals.

"Not only me, but all athletes cherish every medal, regardless of its color," Oanh told VnExpress after the tournament. "It represents the results of hard work, perseverance, and overcoming difficulties in sports."

In addition to achieving her personal goals, Oanh was also delighted by the growth of the next generation of athletes, especially in middle- and long-distance running. "Le Thi Tuyet shows great promise in the 5,000m and 10,000m, along with Doan Thu Hang, Hoang Thi Ngoc Oanh, and many others. I hope they continue to love themselves, appreciate life, cherish what they have, live with purpose, dare to dream, and strive to achieve those dreams," Oanh said.

Nguyen Thi Oanh receives the gold medal in the women's 1,500m at the 2025 National Athletics Championships at Hoa Xuan Stadium, Da Nang on 10/8. Photo: Duc Dong. *

The 30-year-old runner recalled her first medal in 2011, a bronze at the National Youth Games. This was followed by her first gold medal in the 3,000m at the 2013 National Youth Championships.

"But the gold medal that made the biggest impression on me was the one I won at the 2017 National Championships at Hang Day Stadium," Oanh shared. "It wasn't just my first gold at the National Championships, but it also marked my return after a period of illness. That medal gave me tremendous motivation and encouragement to pursue future goals."

Oanh suffered from glomerulonephritis in late 2014 and spent all of 2015 recovering. During that time, the Bac Giang native experienced psychological distress due to the possibility of having to retire from running just as her career was taking off.

"At that time, it felt like all doors were closed just as I was beginning to develop professionally. Therefore, I'm grateful to everyone who supported me. I often look back at that period to remind myself to train well, be serious, disciplined, and more responsible for myself, both professionally and personally," she said.

With this sense of self-awareness and discipline, Nguyen Thi Oanh stated that immediately after returning from the National Championships, she would begin preparing for the 33rd SEA Games in Thailand later this year. "I hope to have good health, enough courage, and confidence to fulfill my duties and achieve my goals," said the winner of 12 SEA Games gold medals.

Nguyen Thi Oanh competes in the women's 3,000m steeplechase at the 2025 National Athletics Championships at Hoa Xuan Stadium, Da Nang on 13/8. Photo: Duc Dong. *

30-year-old Nguyen Thi Oanh, from Bac Giang, has won 4 gold medals in the women's 1,500m and 4 consecutive gold medals in the women's 5,000m at the SEA Games. In addition, she has also won three gold medals in the 3,000m steeplechase and one gold medal in the 10,000m at the games. Along with Nguyen Thi Huyen, Oanh is the Vietnamese athlete with the most gold medals in SEA Games history, second only to Jennifer Tin Lay of Myanmar with 15 gold medals.

Duc Dong