Vietnamese swimmer Anh Vien rises to stardom with impressive showing

Vien is the target of local media both during and after swimming races.

On Saturday and Sunday, the young woman from Can Tho City in the Mekong Delta grabbed four gold medals and broke five SEA Games records in all five events she competed.

On Monday, Vien successfully qualified for two more events and won a silver in the women’s 100m freestyle and a bronze for the women’s 50m backstroke.

Vien registered to compete in a total of 11 events at the tournament, although some were not to her advantage and were just for training.

The daily bulletin of the 28th SEA Games organizing board called Vien ‘a steel girl’ and considered her the archrival of Singaporean hopeful Li Tao, 25.

On Sunday evening, the Vietnamese ‘steel girl’ lost to Li Tao in only one event, the 50m breaststroke, and dominated the other events.

One Vietnamese coach admitted that the women’s 50m race was merely a warm up exercise for Vien, who was not planning to medal in that race.

And this proved correct.

After the short distance race on Sunday, Vien sprinted to championships in two following races – winning the women’s 200m backstroke at 2 minutes 14.12 seconds and the women’s 200m individual medley at 2 minutes 13.53 seconds.

Not only did she win gold medals in the events, Vien also broke SEA Games records with the results.

Speaking to the media, Vien – a Vietnam People’s Army captain – admitted, “I was not satisfied with my performances. It was a loss. I will try more in the coming days.

“I should have made a better result in the 200m backstroke. But it’s OK for the 200m individual medley.

“I believe I will win more gold medals in the coming days.”

Vien also told the media in Singapore that showing off one’s full strength is more important than winning medals.

Singaporean swimmer Samantha Yeo, who finished third in the women’s 200m individual medley, was surprised and asked how Vien could swim so well in so many events.

“She is special and unique,” Samantha added.

Vietnam now stands third in the medal tally with 29 gold medals after Singapore, with 43 golds and Thailand with 30 golds, at the 28th SEA Games, which will wrap up on June 16.