Introduction
Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên is a Vietnamese swimmer from Cần Thơ. She is known for her outstanding achievements at SEA Games and is one of the leading swimmers of Vietnamese swimming.
Background and development
Ánh Viên was born and raised in a farming family in the Cửu Long river region. Her grandfather, Nguyễn Văn Tới, was the first to teach her to swim in the Ba Cao canal in front of their house when she was five years old. Her swimming talent was discovered in fifth grade, when she took first place at the Phong Điền district Phù Đổng Sports Festival and then at the city level. This achievement brought her into the swimming team of the National Defense Sports Center 4 (Military Region 9), beginning her path as a professional athlete.
Competitive career
At the 27th SEA Games held in Myanmar in 2013, in the first SEA Games of her career, Ánh Viên won three individual gold medals in the 200m medley, 400m medley and 200m backstroke, and set two SEA Games records. She also won two silver medals and one bronze medal at these Games. These results contributed to five gold medals for the Vietnamese swimming team and earned her the title "Queen of the Southeast Asian pool".
Earlier in 2013, Ánh Viên achieved many results at international competitions, including 11 gold medals, two silver medals and seven records at the Southeast Asian age group swimming championships; six gold medals at the Southeast Asian School Sports Games; three gold medals and one silver medal at the Asian Youth Sports Games; and one gold medal at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
From 2007 to August 2013, Ánh Viên won 142 medals at domestic and international competitions, including 78 gold medals, 46 silver medals and 18 bronze medals.
With her outstanding achievements in 2013, she topped the vote for Athlete of the Year 2013 with 917 points, ahead of 70 candidates. In the 2012 vote, she finished second behind Phan Thị Hà Thanh of gymnastics.
Direction and training
Ánh Viên and coach Đặng Anh Tuấn trained at the St Augustine swimming club (Florida, USA) during several training periods, with investment from the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, the Aquatic Sports Association, military sports and the Cần Thơ locality. She once shared her desire to improve her results in the 200 metre backstroke and 400 metre medley, aiming toward Asian and world competitions.