Swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang seen in the SEA Games last year. He is expected to shine at the Tokyo Olympics next year. - Photo dayboitrangbom.com

Hoang, 20, is the only Vietnamese swimmer to have secured two slots to compete in Japan’s event in the men’s 800m freestyle and 1,500m freestyle.

“Hoang is set to reach the top 12 in the Olympics. However, I see that he has a chance to reach the top eight (final round). This is difficult but it will be a historical achievement if he gains this. The training staff, Hoang and myself, will try to complete his goal,” said Hoang's coach, Chinese national Huang Gouhui.

According to Huang, the big difficulty now is the COVID-19 pandemic that has stopped Hoang from competing in international tournaments to gain experience and hone his skills.

However, Hoang is being trained under a special lesson plan with high intensity and closely supervised by the training staff.

Huang said he believes that Hoang will make a name for Vietnamese swimming at the world's biggest sporting event.

Hoang, a native of the central province of Quang Binh, became the first Vietnamese athlete to secure a spot at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after finishing the 800m freestyle race at the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships in South Korea in 7:52.74, under the Olympic Standard A time of 7:54.31.

He won a second ticket for the 1,500m freestyle after smashing a Southeast Asian (SEA) Games record last year. He finished the 1,500m in 14:58.14, shattering the SEA Games’ previous record, which he also set, of 15:20.10.

“Sometimes I have pressure, but I always keep my thoughts comfortable, because when I'm really comfortable, I can train and compete confidently and surpass my limits. The year 2020 is nearly over so I will focus on events next year with the Olympics and SEA Games. I will work hard to get the best results in these two tournaments,” said Hoang.

At the National Swimming Championship in October, he proved his power with five gold medals.

At the SEA Games 2019, Hoang brought home two golds and two silvers. He also broke the record of the tournament in the 400m freestyle.

Earlier in 2018, Hoang surprised fans by winning an 800m freestyle gold medal at the Youth Olympics as well as one silver and one bronze at the Asian Games. VNS 

Young talent swimming towards Olympic dreams

The first Vietnamese athlete to clinch a spot in the country’s 2020 Tokyo Olympics team, swimmer Nguyen Huy Hoang then suffered the disappointment of seeing the world’s largest sporting event delayed by a year due to the coronavirus outbreak.