Due to declining health, Vu Thi Huong retires from running.

Due to health reasons as well as constant interruptions in her studies, the "speed queen" of Southeast Asia decided to end her competitive career at the age of 29.

"Before making the decision, I also considered a lot," Vu Thi Huong shared with VnExpress. "The doctors informed me that my health did not allow my body to continue to exercise at high intensity. At the end of 2013, I had to have surgery to remove an ovarian cyst, so my health has declined since then. My passion is still great, having to stop after 15 years of running is really regrettable. But this year I am 29 years old."

The most regretful thing for the 1986-born athlete is that the 28th SEA Games is approaching but she has to stop competing. Doctors are worried about Vu Thi Huong's health after she returned from the 2014 Southeast Asian University Games. Before she could celebrate winning three gold medals for the Vietnamese team, the girl from Thai Nguyen had to be hospitalized for the past month due to exhaustion.

During her career, Vu Thi Huong won 8 gold medals in Southeast Asian and Asian athletics in the women's short track. Photo: Duc Dong.

"Those are probably the last medals of my career. Although I was called up to the national team to prepare for the 2015 SEA Games in June, I had to withdraw. I will also ask permission from the An Giang management unit not to compete in domestic tournaments because the doctor advised me to stop at the right time," Huong said.

The "golden girl" of Vietnamese athletics shared that her somewhat hasty decision was also related to her studies. As a final year student at the Ho Chi Minh City University of Physical Education and Sports, specializing in athletics, Huong has only completed her second year because she has owed too many subjects over the years. She is almost 30 years old, and her career path is not long, Huong wants to focus on her studies to soon get a track and field coaching certificate after graduation.

"I had happy moments when I stood on the highest podium to receive the gold medal and heard the national anthem playing in the stadium. But now I have to stop to take care of my life, my future and the path to study is what I chose. Although sad, I feel I was right in making this decision," Huong added.

During her career at the top, Vu Thi Huong won a total of four 100m SEA Games gold medals in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013 and three 200m SEA Games gold medals in 2007, 2009 and 2013. She also won a 100m gold medal at the 2009 Asian Indoor Games, three silver medals and one bronze medal at the Asian Athletics Championships. At the 16th ASIAD in Guangzhou (China), Huong won a silver medal (200m) and a bronze medal (100m).

According to VNE