The decision was made after FINA had selected the best-ranked athlete of the Vietnamese swimming team.

My Tien, 17, was Vietnam’s leading swimmer in the Olympic qualifying round with 775 points. She was the only female athlete to participate in the 2023 World Swimming Championship, a mandatory condition for an Olympic wildcard in swimming.

My Tien was followed by 15-year-old young talent Nguyen Thuy Hien with 769 points.

FINA will not finalise the list until July 3, however, as Vietnamese swimmers no longer participate in any international tournaments, the wildcard entry went to My Tien.

Furthermore, the Vietnam Aquatic Sports Association (VASA) also confirmed the participation of Tien in the coming Paris Olympics. She will join another Vietnamese swimmer – Nguyen Huy Hoang – in competitions in Paris this summer.

Vietnam has so far secured 14 Olympics slots. Vietnamese athletes who have already earned a place at the Olympics include Hoang Thi Tinh in Judo, Le Quoc Phong in archery, Nguyen Thi That in cycling, Nguyen Huy Hoang and Vo Thi My Tien in swimming, Trinh Thu Vinh and Le Thi Mong Tuyen in shooting, Trinh Van Vinh in weightlifting, Nguyen Thi Huong in canoeing, Pham Thi Hue in rowing, Nguyen Thuy Linh and Le Duc Phat in badminton, and Vo Thi Kim Anh and Ha Thi Linh in boxing.

VOV