Bangkok, 13 December 2025 – Vietnamese swimming legend Nguyen Thi Anh Vien expressed deep pride after her younger brother Nguyen Quang Thuan captured the men’s 400m individual medley gold medal at SEA Games 33 on December 12.
Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, the most successful swimmer in Vietnamese history, shared an emotional message of pride after her younger brother Nguyen Quang Thuan claimed victory in the men’s 400m individual medley at SEA Games 33 on the afternoon of December 12. On her personal Facebook page later that evening, Anh Vien wrote a heartfelt tribute, acknowledging the long and difficult journey her brother had endured over the past decade. She emphasized that his perseverance and constant effort had finally been rewarded, adding that both she and the entire family were immensely proud of him.
Within just three hours, the post attracted nearly 15,000 likes and hundreds of congratulatory comments from fans and fellow athletes. Many remarked that Quang Thuan strongly resembles his famous sister, not only in facial features but also in his gentle demeanor and shy smile when stepping onto the podium.
The race took place at the Sports Authority of Thailand Complex in Bangkok, where Quang Thuan competed in lane five. After the first 100 meters, the 2006-born swimmer did not immediately stand out from the rest of the field. However, from the 200-meter mark onward, he began to assert himself. In the final 100 meters, Quang Thuan surged decisively ahead, opening a large gap before touching the wall in 4 minutes 19.98 seconds. His winning time was six seconds faster than the runner-up, senior teammate Hung Nguyen, who had dominated this event at the previous two SEA Games.
Speaking after the medal ceremony, Quang Thuan said he entered the race without putting pressure on himself or setting rigid targets, focusing instead on surpassing his own limits. The 19-year-old swimmer also revealed that Anh Vien had called him before the competition to offer encouragement and remind him to give his very best.
Like his sister, Quang Thuan was introduced to swimming at a young age under the guidance of their grandfather. At the age of eight, he entered a professional training system and later trained at the Can Tho National Sports Training Center, following a development path similar to Anh Vien’s. Coaches have praised him for his natural buoyancy, body structure suited for swimming, strong work ethic, and stable competitive mindset.
Quang Thuan first joined the national team at SEA Games 31 in 2021, when he was just 16, and won a silver medal. At the 2023 SEA Games, he improved his time to 4 minutes 21.03 seconds but again finished second behind Hung Nguyen. That defeat left him visibly disappointed, as he left the pool without celebrating with his senior teammate.
This time, joy replaced frustration as Quang Thuan finally changed the color of his medal. Despite the triumph, Anh Vien expressed confidence that her brother would remain grounded. She encouraged him to keep moving forward, writing that his journey had only just begun and that even greater achievements still awaited him.
Nguyen Thi Anh Vien retired from competitive swimming after the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Born in 1996, she remains the most decorated swimmer in Vietnamese history, with 25 SEA Games gold medals, Asian-level medals, two Asian Games bronze medals, a Youth Olympic gold medal, and numerous national records, cementing her legacy as a true icon of Vietnamese sport.
Bao Ngoc
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