Runner Nguyen Thi Oanh has been honoured as the nation’s most outstanding athlete of 2019. — Photo baovanhoa.vn

A vote for the country’s best athletes and trainers in 2019 was held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the HCM Communist Youth Union Central Committee, Viet Nam Olympic Committee, National Sports Administration, and Thể Thao Việt Nam (Vietnamese sport) newspaper at the end of year.

The Bac Giang Province native took 846 points to top the list. Female swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien ranked second with 772 points and male swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang was third with 704 points.

“I am so happy as it is the first time I have been honoured as the best athlete of the country. I experienced a hard SEA Games and gained a good result,” said Oanh.

At the region's biggest sport event, Oanh won gold medals in the women’s 1,500m, 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.

The image of Oanh collapsing after crossing the finish line in the 3,000m steeplechase inspired fans nationwide. She set a Games record in the event, despite having won the gruelling 5,000m earlier that day.

In addition, en route to her glory in the Philippines, Oanh faced numerous difficulties and overcame kidney problems in the past to return to the national team.

Despite taking six gold and two silver medals at the SEA Games 30, Vien came in second place. While with two golds, one silver and two SEA Games records in the Philippines, Hoang was third.

Midfielders Nguyen Quang Hai and Do Hung Dung of V.League 1 defending champions Hanoi FC ranked fourth and fifth with 438 points and 390 points, respectively.

Meanwhile, the most outstanding coach went to Mai Duc Chung who led the Vietnamese women’s football team to triumph at the SEA Games and received 428 points. Under the leadership of Chung, the Vietnamese team were crowned SEA Games champions for the sixth time in history.

Track and field athlete Cao Ngoc Hung was named as the most outstanding athlete with disabilities, with 572 points, 118 points clear of runner-up swimmer Vo Thanh Tung. Hung competed well at the world championship and earned a ticket to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

Track and field trainer Dang Van Phuc won the award for the most outstanding trainer for disabled athletes with 342 points. — VNS

Tiny Oanh stands tall for Vietnam at SEA Games

Nguyen Thi Oanh crossed the finish line and lay down on the ground, exhausted.