Nguyen Thi Oanh made history with a gold medal in the 10,000m race.

In the women's 10,000m final, Nguyen Thi Oanh accelerated in the last two laps to win her fourth gold medal at the 32nd SEA Games, with a time of 35 minutes and 11 seconds. SEA Games 31 champion Pham Thi Hong Le finished second with a time of 35 minutes and 21 seconds, winning the silver medal, while athlete Elvina (Indonesia) won the bronze medal.

Nguyen Thi Oanh burst into joy of victory. Photo: Hai Hoang

Nguyen Thi Oanh and Hong Le excellently won Gold and Silver medals. Photo: Hai Hoang.

Nguyen Thi Oanh is the first athlete in the history of Vietnamese athletics to win 4 individual gold medals in the 10,000 m, 1,500 m and 3,000 m steeplechase events. Of which, 2 gold medals in the 1,500 m and 3,000 m steeplechase events were won by Nguyen Thi Oanh after only 20 minutes, despite the disadvantages in the competition.

The joy of the girls in the Vietnamese athletics team. Photo: Hai Hoang.

This gold medal helps Nguyen Thi Oanh equal Nguyen Thi Huyen's record of 12 gold medals at the SEA Games.

Nguyen Thi Oanh was almost exhausted after sprinting. Photo: Hai Hoang

At the National Championship in mid-December 2022, Oanh and Le competed in the 10,000m event, with the runner from Bac Giang winning. Oanh even set a national record of 33 minutes 13 seconds 23, while Hong Le, despite progressing compared to the SEA Games, only achieved 33 minutes 58 seconds 20.

Before this year's tournament in Cambodia, the record for most gold medals in athletics belonged to Indonesian athlete Triyaningsih, who won 11 gold medals between 2007 and 2017 in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m and marathon events.

List of Vietnam medals on May 12:

Gold Medal (6): Nong Van Huu (wushu performance of male sword & male staff), Nguyen Thi Lan (wushu competition 48kg women), Bui Truong Giang (wushu competition 60kg men), Truong Van Chuong (wushu competition 65kg men), Dinh Van Bi (wushu competition 70kg men), Nguyen Thi Oanh (athletics, 10,000m women)