Small in stature, but huge in ability

Thanh Hà

HÀ NỘI They say good things come in small packages, and that’s certainly the case with athlete Nguyễn Thị Hằng.

When standing among her peers, the  一. 五 八m tall Hanoian is dwarfed compared to those around her. But she sure made a big statement at the National Athletics Championship this month, winning medals in all seven events she entered.

She won three golds in the  四x 二00m,  四x 八00m and mixed  四x 四00m relays. Other medals were silvers in the  四00m individual and  四x 四00m and a bronze in the  四x 一00m. 

Hằng came away from the tournament with almost too many medals to carry!

She told Việt Nam News: "I registered most events among all athletes in this year championship. Prior to the competitions, I worked hard and hoped to take part and run well in up to six events. But luckily, I ran in all seven and surprisingly won medals in all of them.

"I am still really happy almost two weeks after the tournament for what I have achieved. It is a big thank to my coaches, doctors and tea妹妹ates who strongly encouraged and supported me.

"I thought that if I ran in less events, my time in the rest would definitely better but it was good that I could test my individual abilities when running in different distances."

Despite winning so many medals, Hằng knows there is room for improvement. In the  四00m individual she was pipped at the post by her rival SEA Games champion Nguyễn Thị Huyền of Nam Định.

Huyền  was also part of the relay team that won gold the  四x 四00m, forcing Hằng’s team into second place.