Quoc Co - Quoc Nghiep talk about the suspicion of 'acting' the falling scene, the bonus and the title of People's Artist

We do not act

Returning from Milan (Italy), circus artists Quoc Co - Quoc Nghiep are temporarily stable in health and spirit, although still affected by jet lag.

Sharing with reporters on February 9, the two artists were pleased and happy to have successfully set a new Guinness World Record. For them, this is a milestone, a beautiful ending to their 20-year career at the top.

The two brothers suffered certain injuries. For Quoc Nghiep, the injury was not too serious but affected his old wounds from many years ago, especially his neck.

Meritorious Artist said that neck injuries are almost impossible to cure completely, they can only be maintained. "When the nerve is compressed, I often have pain, the nerve from the neck to the left arm is numb and stiff. My neck muscles are now like a rubber band, stretched and cannot return to the way they were before," he said.

Therefore, he was sad when reading comments that "the Quoc Co - Quoc Nghiep brothers acted like they were falling to create drama and gain the audience's sympathy".

Brothers Quoc Co - Quoc Nghiep.

Quoc Nghiep shared: "If anyone thinks we are acting like we are falling, try it, we don't dare to do it." Quoc Co added that even with a safety cushion, his younger brother could still be in danger when falling from a height of nearly 4m.(2m height plus Quoc Co's 1.7m height - PV).

"Falling during competition not only affects our health but also our career and achievements. When competing, our mentality is as heavy as everyone else's. The two brothers also experience moments of anxiety, fear, and even stress and insomnia," they said.

Quoc Co expressed: "I love my brother very much. Nghiep gave his life to me. I have the responsibility to bring safety to him." The two brothers affirmed that they will not perform with anyone other than their brother.

In addition, they corrected that all the times they went abroad to compete and set records did not have any bonuses, and even cost money.

"For example, this trip to Milan, we were paid for travel and breakfast.(lunch and dinner on your own - PV)and stay at the hotel during the training and record-setting period. Besides, we are covered by insurance for risks and injuries," Quoc Nghiep said.

Quoc Co shows affection for his younger brother.

Golf business and development after the peak competition

Before ending their careers, Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep both struggled for a long time. They grew up in the circus and witnessed many older circus performers suffering from pain and injuries.

At some point in their careers, they realized that whether they wanted to or not, circus performers would inevitably face this situation at the end of their careers. Therefore, the two brothers wanted to stop competing while it was not too late.

"Circus is like blood flowing through our veins. The two brothers still have many projects and ideas... but we have to stop. Competition is very harsh, requiring high-intensity training, very different from performing. We don't dare watch clips of circus artists performing because we are afraid of missing the profession," they shared.

The two artists also received many invitations to participate in talent shows in Spain, France, Italy... but refused all of them. They wanted to "maintain a good image instead of continuing to bet their lives".

Looking back on their careers, Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep feel that they have fulfilled their responsibilities as circus artists and Vietnamese citizens. Their achievements and awards are the result of their tireless efforts.

To become circus artists, they had to live a "childhood knowing nothing but circus". They went through all the stages like having no shows, practicing for many years without achieving anything or always being criticized.

Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep call it a sacrifice for the profession. At a certain age, they want to rest, be with their wives and children and enjoy private life.

Quoc Nghiep spent 1 year resting and treating his injury.

They have ended their peak playing careers but still perform. In addition, the two will spend time researching their 20-year career journey to summarize their experiences into knowledge, and share it with the next generation.

The circus artists are hatching a number of joint plans, including a project to travel across all 63 provinces and cities of Vietnam and a documentary about the 20-year career of Quoc Co - Quoc Nghiep.

After the competition, Quoc Co wants to complete his master's degree in cultural management and develop his family's product business.

"I graduated from university in 2021 and am expected to graduate from graduate school in the middle of this year. Many people do not appreciate circus artists, seeing them as people who only know how to practice and have no knowledge. I want to study properly so that they can have a different perspective and inspire my children," he said.

Meanwhile, Quoc Nghiep has long been passionate about golf. He wants to play golf and aims to become a golf coach.

In 2023, he will take time to rest, recover from injuries and maintain physical therapy. The Meritorious Artist wants to spend a year completely relaxing his body, not exercising and eating all the food he likes.

Admire the children

Talking about the next generation, Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep put their trust in them. With what they have done to "pave the way", the two brothers believe that young circus artists will confidently bring Vietnamese circus to the world.

They are most concerned about the future of circus and the careers of circus artists. Accordingly, circus is an art with age restrictions and a high possibility of elimination.

The older circus artists get, the fewer shows they perform. While they trade their childhood and youth just to master circus moves and acts.

The Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep brothers are often criticized for "doing the same thing over and over again." They say: "No matter how good we are, we can't do anything else."

No matter how good a movie is, it's no longer interesting after watching it for the third time. The same goes for our act. How can circus performers survive when they pay so much but can't perform their act over and over again?

The two artists have many plans after stopping competing.

Regarding the People's Artist title, Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep continue to submit their applications for the next round. They have many awards and titles but want to be awarded the title "People's Artist" to inspire the next generation.

"First, this is a very noble title. Second, we want young people to believe that when they dedicate themselves, they will be recognized and rewarded appropriately, instead of the common thought of "devoting until old age and then being eliminated without getting anything", the two brothers said.

Quoc Co and Quoc Nghiep admire their children. From a professional perspective, they rarely see a child circus performer who can perform many difficult moves at the age of 3.

They always love and pass on their love of circus to their children but do not force them. "If they persevere in this profession, by the age of 15 they can do what my brothers and I did. But we let them choose their own future.

Even if they don't love circus anymore, they still had a happy childhood, performing circus acts and going with their father," the two artists proudly said.