1. Overview
Nguyễn Thị Oanh is a highly accomplished Vietnamese athlete specializing in middle and long-distance running events. Born on August 15, 1995, she has become a prominent figure in Vietnamese athletics, holding various national records and the SEA Games record for the 3000 metres steeplechase. Her career is marked by remarkable resilience, having overcome a serious illness to achieve numerous successes, including 13 gold medals at the SEA Games and one medal at the Asian Games. Notably, she became the first Vietnamese athlete to secure four individual gold medals in a single SEA Games edition, a testament to her determination and significant contribution to the sport.
2. Biography
Nguyễn Thị Oanh's personal background shaped her journey from a rural upbringing to becoming a celebrated national athlete.
2.1. Early life and family
Nguyễn Thị Oanh was born on August 15, 1995, in Nhuần Hamlet, Mỹ Hà Commune, Lạng Giang District, which is part of Bắc Giang (formerly Hà Bắc Province), Vietnam. She comes from a humble farming family and is the seventh of eight children, with one younger brother. Her parents, Chuyền and Nguyễn Thị Hưởng, were both farmers. Her childhood environment was in a poor rural area located in the Central Midlands and Northern Mountains region, approximately 43 mile (70 km) northeast of the capital, Hanoi.
3. Career
Nguyễn Thị Oanh's athletic career demonstrates a path of perseverance, remarkable achievements, and a strong return from adversity.
3.1. Early career (2010-2013)
Nguyễn Thị Oanh began her athletics journey at the age of 15 in 2010. In her initial attempts to join the provincial athletics team, she faced skepticism due to her small stature, weighing less than 88 lb (40 kg) and standing at approximately 4.9 ft (1.5 m) tall. Despite these physical limitations, her diligent and serious training approach eventually earned her the trust of the coaching staff, leading to her selection for the national team. Her first significant international achievement came at the 2013 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 27) in Myanmar, where she secured a silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase, finishing behind the Indonesian champion, Rini Budiarti.
3.2. Illness and return (2014-2016)
In late 2014, shortly after competing in the 7th National Sports Festival, Nguyễn Thị Oanh experienced sudden swelling, leading to a diagnosis of acute glomerulonephritis. This serious illness forced her to step away from competitive running to focus entirely on her treatment. As a result, she was unable to participate in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 28) held in Singapore. She gradually returned to competition in September 2016 at the 5th Asian Beach Games in Da Nang, Vietnam. There, she earned a silver medal in the individual cross-country event, finishing second to her teammate Phạm Thị Huệ. In the team cross-country event, Oanh, Huệ, and three other Vietnamese athletes collectively won a gold medal, outperforming their rivals from Thailand.
3.3. Major achievements (2017-2019)
This period marked a significant resurgence and a series of major successes for Nguyễn Thị Oanh on both regional and continental stages. At the 2017 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 29) in Malaysia, her preferred event, the 3000 metres steeplechase, was unexpectedly removed from the competition schedule by the host nation, citing insufficient entries with only Vietnam registering to participate. Consequently, the coaching team decided to enter her in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres events, which were facing a shortage of participants. Despite the short preparation time, Nguyễn Thị Oanh excelled, winning two gold medals in both challenging distances.
In April 2018, she continued her success at the Singapore Open Athletics Championships, securing two additional gold medals in the 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase. In August 2018, at the 2018 Asian Games (Asiad 18) in Jakarta, Indonesia, Nguyễn Thị Oanh competed in the 3000 metres steeplechase and won a historic bronze medal, marking the first time Vietnamese athletics had achieved a medal in this event at the Asian Games. She also set a new national record with a time of 9 minutes and 43.83 seconds, significantly improving on the previous national record held by Nguyễn Thị Phương by 19.15 seconds. She also participated in the 1500 metres event, finishing fourth, 2.93 seconds behind the bronze medalist from India.
Later in 2018, representing the Bắc Giang provincial sports delegation at the 8th National Sports Festival, she won three gold medals in her strong events: the 1500 metres, 5000 metres, and 3000 metres steeplechase. Remarkably, all three gold medals were accompanied by new festival records, capping off a highly successful year for her. In 2019, Nguyễn Thị Oanh competed at the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30) in the Philippines. She successfully defended her two gold medals from the previous Games in the 1500 metres and 5000 metres, and for the first time, won gold in her specialty, the 3000 metres steeplechase. Her performance in the 3000 metres steeplechase also set a new SEA Games record of 10 minutes and 00.02 seconds, surpassing the previous record set by Rini Budiarti at the 2011 SEA Games by 0.56 seconds. Following these achievements, she was voted the National Outstanding Athlete of 2019, earning 846 points.
3.4. Post-2020 activities and aspirations
After the 2019 SEA Games, Nguyễn Thị Oanh expressed her ambition to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics (held in 2021) in the 3000 metres steeplechase, acknowledging the challenging qualifying standard of 9 minutes and 30.00 seconds, which was 13.83 seconds faster than her personal best at the 2018 Asian Games.
At the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) held in Vietnam, she successfully defended all three of her titles in the 1500 metres, 3000 metres steeplechase, and 5000 metres. In February 2023, at the 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships in Astana, she won a gold medal in the 1500 metres event and finished fifth in the 3000 metres. Her accomplishments continued at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) in Cambodia, where she secured an astonishing four individual gold medals: in the 1500 metres, 3000 metres steeplechase, 5000 metres, and 10,000 metres. This made her the first Vietnamese athlete to achieve such a feat in a single SEA Games edition. A particularly remarkable moment occurred during the 2023 Games when, due to a last-minute schedule change, the 1500 metres and 3000 metres steeplechase events were held just 20 minutes apart. Nguyễn Thị Oanh managed to win both golds, an achievement that garnered widespread admiration and astonishment from the international athletics community. Later in 2023, she was ranked 13th in the 1500 metres at the 2023 World Athletics Championships.
4. Personal bests
Nguyễn Thị Oanh holds several national and SEA Games records across her preferred distances.
| Event | Performance | Competition | Location | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1500 metres | 4:12.28 | Unknown | Unknown | August 19, 2023 | |
| 1500 metres indoor | 4:15.55 | 2023 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships | Astana, Kazakhstan | February 11, 2023 | National record |
| 3000 metres steeplechase | 9:43.83 | 2018 Asian Games | Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Jakarta, Indonesia | August 27, 2018 | National and SEA Games record |
| 5000 metres | 15:53.48 | 2021 Southeast Asian Games | Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hanoi, Vietnam | December 10, 2021 | National record |
| 10,000 metres | 33:13.23 | National Athletics Championships 2022 | Unknown | December 17, 2022 | National record |
5. Personal life
Outside of her professional athletic career, Nguyễn Thị Oanh has garnered several affectionate nicknames and is known for her friendly demeanor.
5.1. Namesakes
Nguyễn Thị Oanh is sometimes referred to by the nickname Oanh ỉnVietnamese, which is believed to stem from her birth year falling under the Year of the Pig (Ất HợiVietnamese) in the traditional Vietnamese calendar. Due to her petite build combined with her strong competitive performances, Vietnamese media often refer to her as "Tiny Pepper" (cô bé hạt tiêuVietnamese).
There is another notable Vietnamese athlete who shares the same name, Nguyễn Thị Oanh, born in 1996 and representing Hanoi. This Nguyễn Thị Oanh specializes in sprinting, competing in events such as the 200 metres, 400 metres, and 4x400 metres relay. She has also participated in numerous international competitions alongside the national athletics team since the 2011 SEA Games (SEA Games 26), winning many gold medals. The similarity in their names, close ages, and shared presence on the national team often lead to confusion among fans. A key distinguishing physical characteristic is that the sprinting Nguyễn Thị Oanh is taller, standing at 5.6 ft (1.7 m) with a physique often described as model-like, contrasting with the smaller stature of the distance runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh. Despite the confusion, the two athletes are close friends, and the distance runner Nguyễn Thị Oanh often refers to her namesake as "Oanh 400m" to differentiate them.
6. Legacy and Public Image
Nguyễn Thị Oanh has left a profound impact on Vietnamese athletics, establishing herself as an inspirational figure through her achievements and resilience. Her journey, marked by overcoming a severe illness and physical disadvantages, resonates deeply with the public. Her nickname "Tiny Pepper" embodies her spirit of defying expectations and achieving greatness despite her small stature.
Her historic achievement of winning four individual gold medals at the 2023 SEA Games, including the remarkable feat of securing two golds within a mere 20 minutes, solidified her status as a national hero and drew international attention. This performance not only showcased her athletic prowess but also her unwavering determination. Her dedication to the sport is further highlighted by her parents' sentiment, who reportedly stated their primary wish was for her to strive "for the flag and jersey," rather than for financial gain. Nguyễn Thị Oanh's legacy is one of perseverance, breaking barriers, and inspiring a nation through her extraordinary dedication to athletics.