Vietnam Gears up for 2016 Olympics After Strong Showing at SEA Games

Though Nguyen Thi Anh Vien got most of the attention at the SEA Games for her record breaking performances, many other Vietnamese athletes put on a strong showing, giving spectators a glimpse of what to expect at the 2016 Olympics.

With 73 gold metals, Vietnam ranked third out of 11 counties competing at the biennial games and surpassed its target of 60 golds, reports Thanh Nien.

“The success was a result of proper investments in athletes who will also compete at the 2016 Olympics and the 2018 Asian Games,” said Tran Duc Phan, who led the Vietnamese delegation to the 28^th Southeast Asian Games that took place in Singapore from June 5 – 16.

Vietnam sent 392 athletes to compete in 28 out of 36 sports, finishing with 73 gold, 53 silver and 60 bronze medals.

Thailand led the gold metal count with 95, followed by Singapore at 84.

Phan said that he was particularly impressed with the country’s showing in the athletics category in which Nguyen Van Lai broke a 22-year-old SEA Games record in the men’s 5,000m running competition.

But it was 19-year-old swimmer, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien AKA “The Iron Girl,” who stole the spotlight after breaking eight records at the event.

Expect to see many of these athletes attempt to repeat their success at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

[Photo via Today Online]