2024 marks a new step forward for the Hai Duong aerobic team when it continuously brings home prestigious medals at the national and international levels.
From the poor gym...
At exactly 4:30 p.m. every day, the lights in the multi-purpose hall at Cam Thuong Primary School (Hai Duong City) are turned on. 10 athletes of the Hai Duong aerobics team are present, preparing to start a practice session.
Not in a hurry to ask his students to warm up, coach Nguyen Anh Tuan took the opportunity to close each door, blocking out the cold wind blowing in. Every day here, the 10 students are highly focused, engrossed in practicing their skills.
When witnessing 11-13 year old children practicing, one can feel the hardship and suffering behind the medals.
But it seemed like both teachers and students forgot about time, fatigue, the sweat pouring down their faces, and even the injuries that could happen at any time.
For the past 4 years, on sunny days as well as rainy days, athlete Hoang Phi Hung (born in 2012) has regularly cycled more than 1 km to the gym. Hung said: "No one in my family is into sports, but my parents and sister are very supportive of my aerobics practice. Having been attached to this place since I was young, to me, everyone on the team is like a family."
Assigned the responsibility of head coach in charge of aerobics in Hai Duong province since 2012, coach Nguyen Anh Tuan said: "Although training conditions are still lacking, this gym has long become a second home for both teachers and students."
According to Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, current training equipment only meets part of the demand. The training floor is still foam while national and international championships use wooden floors.
Over time, many of the training equipment for athletes has been damaged and cannot be used. Teachers and students make use of available equipment in the multi-purpose house for exercises.
Previously, the Hai Duong aerobic team participated in many national tournaments but their highest achievement was regretful silver medals.
In the past 4 years, aerobics has received more attention and investment from relevant agencies and units, especially the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Board of Directors of the Provincial Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center.
Mr. Nguyen Dinh Tu, Director of the Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center, said that when it was first established, the aerobics teachers and students had to borrow floor mats from the martial arts team to practice. Two years ago, the team was equipped with a set of foam mats by the center. In addition, due to the nature of aerobics requiring music, the center also provided the team with a set of standard speakers. Every year, the center always allocates funds to organize training sessions for the team in Hai Phong City before major tournaments.
...to the first time winning a national gold medal
This year, the Hai Duong aerobics team has had outstanding achievements not only in the national championship but also in the international tournament. The number of medals that the athletes brought home all exceeded the assigned target.
Participating for the first time in an international tournament, the 2024 Asian Aerobic Gymnastics Championship, the Hai Duong aerobic team excellently won 1 silver medal and 1 bronze medal.
2024 is also the first year that Hai Duong aerobics has won a national gold medal. This is the gold medal in the mixed doubles event of athletes Hoang Phi Hung and Nguyen Thanh Truc at the 2024 National Aerobic Gymnastics Championship.
In addition, at the 2024 National Aerobic Gymnastics Youth Championship, Hai Duong won 2 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 3 bronze medals. At the National Aerobic Gymnastics Club Championship, Hai Duong brought home 2 gold medals, 2 silver medals, and 1 bronze medal.
These achievements are thanks to the perseverance and training efforts of both teachers and students of the team; the support of the athletes' parents; and the timely attention from relevant agencies and units.
Aerobics is a sport that requires flexibility, endurance of muscles, and endurance of will. In exchange for a few minutes on the stage, there is hard work, practicing a movement dozens, hundreds of times. After the tournaments, the second home of coach Nguyen Anh Tuan and his students is lit up every night with the light of hard work and effort.
Aerobics is a sport that includes coordinated movements, requiring the rhythm between body parts to vibrant music or to the coach's count. In Vietnam, aerobics is also called rhythmic gymnastics or aesthetic gymnastics.