Introduction
Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is a Vietnamese swimmer from Can Tho. She is known for her outstanding achievements at the SEA Games and is regarded as one of Vietnam's leading swimmers.
Background and Development
Anh Vien grew up in a farming family in the Mekong Delta. Her grandfather, Nguyen Van Toi, first taught her to swim in the Ba Cao canal in front of their home when she was five years old. Her swimming talent was recognized in the fifth grade, when she won first place at the Phong Dien district and then city-level Phu Dong Sports Festival. This achievement led her to join the swimming team of the National Defense Sports Center 4 (Military Region 9), beginning her professional athletic career.
Competitive Career
At the 27th SEA Games in Myanmar in 2013, her first SEA Games, Anh Vien 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 the event. These results contributed to Vietnam's swimming team winning five gold medals and earned her the title "Queen of the Southeast Asian pool."
Earlier in 2013, Anh Vien achieved numerous 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 Student Sports Games; three gold medals and one silver medal at the Asian Youth Games; and one gold medal at the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
From 2007 to August 2013, Anh Vien won 142 medals at domestic and international competitions, including 78 gold, 46 silver, and 18 bronze medals.
With her breakthrough achievements in 2013, she topped the voting for Athlete of the Year 2013 with 917 points, surpassing 70 nominees. In the 2012 voting, she placed second behind Phan Thi Ha Thanh in gymnastics.
Training Direction
Anh Vien and coach Dang Anh Tuan have trained at the St Augustine swimming club in Florida, USA, in multiple training periods supported by the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association, military sports, and Can Tho local authorities. She has expressed her desire to improve her performances in the 200m backstroke and 400m medley, aiming for Asian and world competitions.