PMiss Thi Thu - the golden girl of Vietnamese swimming and diving has stepped onto the highest podium 5 times at 2 consecutive SEA Games. To have that shining glory, this young girl has gone through so much sweat and tears.
On a day at the end of May, the scorching heat could not stop the flow of people pouring into the hall of the People's Committee of Thai Duong commune, Binh Giang district (Hai Duong) to witness the ceremony honoring female swimmer Pham Thi Thu - an outstanding daughter of her homeland who had just returned from Cambodia after a resoundingly successful SEA Games.
Before the ceremony started, everyone rushed to get closer to "see her face" and squeeze in to take a souvenir photo with this beautiful female swimmer. Because, although Thu was born here, since grade 4 she left her hometown to go to Hai Duong Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center to practice and compete domestically and internationally. Then after many painful events in her family, she considered the center her home, considered her teachers her parents, so she rarely returned to her hometown...
Pham Thi Thu born in 2002 in a farming family, in one of the most remote communes in Hai Duong province. Thu's childhood was spent with her friends going around the canals to catch crabs and shrimps. Thu's swimming ability came naturally. With excellent physical strength, a well-proportioned body and a long arm span, Thu was the winner of every race with her friends on the river. Thu's rudimentary swimming skills but with the potential of a talented athlete were noticed by the coaches of the Hai Duong Sports Training, Coaching and Competition Center. In grade 4, at the age of 10, she said goodbye to her family, put on her backpack and went to the center to practice.
Away from her parents, she thought that at the center she would only study, eat, practice and play like any other little girl or boy, but not long after, family incidents continued to strike. Her beloved mother passed away after a long battle with illness in 2016.
It was the first big shock in the life of a 13-year-old girl. After that incident, Thu was confused about the unclear road ahead and the big question always lingered in her mind: Stop or continue? At the center, teacher Pham Dang Khoa was close to her, sharing and helping her calm down. On weekends, Thu cycled dozens of kilometers home, rushing into her father and brother's arms to ease her longing for her mother.
But the irony and cruelty of fate have not let the young girl go. Three years after her mother passed away, in 2019, Thu's only brother, who had just returned from military service, also suffered from a serious illness and passed away.
With her mother and only brother gone, Thu could only cling to and rely on her father. The pressures of life and the hardships of training were all turned into tears every time she saw her father. However, the bitterness of life did not give up, it was like huge waves, one layer after another crashing on the young girl's head. Exactly 1 year after her brother passed away, in 2020, her father also passed away. There were no words to describe the misery at that time. The young girl who nurtured the dream of becoming a professional athlete was left alone and helpless...
After so many events, Thu was like a lonely little fish in cold water. She soaked herself in the water to ease her sadness and let her salty tears mix with the water. Thu threw herself into practice, forgetting the days and months, practicing to the point where her clothes were rarely dry. Practicing to ease her sadness, and practicing was the only way for her to move forward and build a great career.
Perhaps, in the history of Hai Duong and Vietnam sports, there are few athletes who have had to go through terrible events but still achieved resounding successes like Pham Thi Thu.
Overcoming everything, leaving behind the disasters, Thu is like a lone pedestrian climbing to the top of the mountain. The proof is the huge collection of medals she has achieved up to this point: winning 120 medals of all kinds; breaking 5 national records, breaking 13 age group records, winning 2 excellent athlete cups. Most notably are 2 gold medals at the 31st SEA Games in her first participation; 3 gold medals at the 32nd SEA Games, breaking 2 SEA Games records; 3 gold medals at the World Cup, 3 gold medals at the Asian Games...
Up to now, Thu has been honored to receive 1 Third-class Labor Medal awarded by the President after returning from the 32nd SEA Games; 2 Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister; 13 Certificates of Merit from the Chairman of the People's Committee of Hai Duong province; 4 Certificates of Merit from the Women's Union of Hai Duong province; 1 Certificate of Merit from the Hai Duong Provincial Youth Union; 1 Certificate of Merit from the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association; 4 consecutive years (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022) certified by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Duong as a typical athlete of the province...
Despite the glory, Pham Thi Thu suppressed her pain to focus on training and competing.
After returning from the 32nd SEA Games, Thu quietly placed the 3 gold medals on the altar and burned incense for her parents and brother. Thu cried. Crying because she had accomplished what her parents and brother had wished for when they were alive, and crying because there was no one left to share the joy of victory with. Despite her resounding successes, the road ahead of her was still long and arduous. But to many people, Thu was a monument of belief in victory, of courage, of extraordinary will and determination.
In the stories, Thu never shed tears when her family situation was mentioned. Thu only talked about the present, the future and her plans for the future. If she were weak, fragile and without a strong will, Thu would have collapsed in the middle of her career, let alone achieved glory. We cannot help but mention the pain she went through because without mentioning it, no one would see the value of the medals she won.
Every glory has its tears and sacrifices, especially for Pham Thi Thu - one of the most talented Vietnamese divers today.
Content:TIEN HUY
Graphics: TUAN ANH