VietNamNet Bridge – The history of Vietnam’s sport has turned to a new page as shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh won the first Olympic gold medal for Vietnam. At the ongoing 2016 Summer Olympics in Brazil, Vinh won a gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event, becoming Vietnam’s first Olympic gold medalist. VOV’s Thanh Luong reports.

Hoang Xuan Vinh won the first Olympic gold medal for Vietnam (Photo: VOV)

Hoang Xuan Vinh was born in 1974 in Son Tay Town, Hanoi. Vinh took up shooting at the age of 20, he made a name for himself by becoming the winner of shooting contest in his military unit when he was 24.  2 years later, Vinh bagged his first national gold medal and broke the national record in 10-meter air pistol event. With this achievement, Vinh was accepted to the national shooting team. During his career, Vinh has won a number of medals such as gold medals in Sea Games, broke the world shooting record, and now a gold medal at the Olympics.

On August 7, 2016, shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh made history at Rio Olympics as he won the first Olympic gold medal for Vietnam at the men’s 10-meter air pistol event. He scored 202.5 points in the final round, breaking the previous Olympics record. Vinh led Felipe Almeida Wu of host Brazil with 202.1 points, and China’s Pang Wei with 180.4 points. On August 10, Vinh continued winning the silver medal in the Olympic men’s 50 meter pistol event. Vinh’s achievements helped realize the goal set by Vietnamese delegation to win medals in the Olympics: “I always bear in mind that I must be strong in any difficult circumstances. This competition is so meaningful to me. I experienced the thorny moment in the final round, it is also the result of my time and effort to practice. I felt so moved when Vietnam was announced at the Olympics”.

In order to win high record in the Olympics, it requires one’s hard practice, determination and talent. It is exceptional effort for Hoang Xuan Vinh to win a gold medal in the Olympics at the age of 40. Hoang Vinh Giang, Vice Chairman of Vietnam’s National Olympic Committee, said: “Vinh’s gold medal is a treasure of Vietnamese sports. This has been the dream of generations of athletes and Vietnamese people. Vinh’s achievement has raised the position of Vietnamese sports in the world”. Nguyen Thi Nhung, Chief coach of the Vietnamese shooting team, said: “Hoang Xuan Vinh has gained a spectacular victory in this Olympics. Vinh has brought glory for the nation. I feel so proud of him”.

Vietnam's history maker Hoang Xuan Vinh is warmly welcomed home on the evening of August 14.

World media highlighted Hoang Xuan Vinh’s achievement. Reuters news agency reported that Hoang Xuan Vinh secured Vietnam’s first Olympic gold medal with 202.5 points in the men’s 10-meter air pistol event. BBC said Vietnam won the first ever Olympic gold medal with Hoang Xuan Vinh’s winning in the men's 10-metre air pistol event. Meanwhile, the US’s CNN news agency reported that Hoang Xuan Vinh is the legend of Vietnamese sports when winning the historic Olympic gold medal.

Since Vietnam first took part in the Olympics in Moscow, Russia in 1980, this is the time Vietnam has won a gold medal in the Olympics.

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