Age 16 and the journey to conquer 3 National Vovinam Gold Medals of Bui Thi Le Thuy

1 Gold Medal - 10 rounds

We met martial artist Bui Thi Le Thuy at the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center when she just brought home the prestigious Gold Medal for her home province at the 2025 National Vovinam Youth Championship that ended on June 24.

Despite having just gone through a tough competition journey, when returning to Nghe An, she and her teammates immediately practiced diligently. At first glance, Thuy is quite shy and timid. However, when she starts practicing, especially in the confrontations, it is easy to recognize a completely different Thuy - strong, proactive and confident.

Coach Phan Thi Huyen - who has been with Thuy for many years shared that Thuy is a student who surprises many people. Not because she was outstanding from the beginning, but because of her perseverance, persistence and ability to make clear progress through each stage of training and competition.

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“Thuy's recent final match at the 2025 National Vovinam Youth Championship left a strong impression on many viewers. Because it is rare for a final match to last up to 10 rounds to determine the final winner."

Coach Phan Thi Huyen - Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center

Specifically, Thuy had to go through 3 regular rounds and 7 consecutive extra rounds. Thuy's opponent was an athlete from Thanh Hoa - the same person who defeated her in the final match of the Vovinam Championship of the Central Highlands region that took place more than 1 month before.

That defeat left many regrets, but at the same time it also became the motivation for Thuy to practice more seriously, preparing carefully for the rematch. And she did it when she entered this tournament with confidence, maintaining stable performance until the last round.

The match ended with a golden point with a straight punch from behind. That punch was one of Thuy's strengths, helping her win the Gold Medal in the end. That medal was a tough challenge both physically and mentally when having to endure the pressure during 10 intense rounds.

Through training and competition, Thuy soon revealed her strengths in punches, especially straight punches, back slaps and leg-catching techniques. These moves not only demonstrate quick reflexes but also require precision and decisiveness in each punching situation.

At the 2024 National Vovinam Youth Championship, Thuy also had a memorable moment when the final match had to go into the 4th round after 3 main rounds. At the decisive moment, she had an impressive performance when using the roundhouse attack. This attack is considered difficult, because it requires smooth coordination between hip flexibility, body balance and the ability to judge the exact timing. However, thanks to her good performance, Thuy defeated her opponent and brought home the prestigious Gold Medal for the Nghe An delegation.

Journey to continue writing dreams

Bui Thi Le Thuy was born in 2009, in a farming family in the mountainous district of Anh Son (old). The second child in a family of three children, Thuy is the only one pursuing a professional sports career.

Thuy's chance to learn Vovinam began in the summer of 6th grade. At that time, during the athlete selection round of the Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, coach Tran Trong Cuong went directly to Anh Son to look for new talent. Through rigorous tests such as high jump, short run, push-ups, abdominal muscles, flexible splits... he decided to select Thuy, a small but agile girl with good endurance and quick reflexes.

Leaving her hometown at such a young age, Thuy had to get used to living away from her parents and familiar school, and begin a series of rigorous training days in a professional training environment. She missed home, but she never asked to go back.

Not disappointing the expectations of her family and the coaching staff, after a short time, Thuy has adapted well to the training intensity and affirmed her talent. What makes her teachers and teammates admire is Thuy's disciplined and serious training spirit. "There were days when I was sick but still asked to go to the training ground. As long as I was not seriously injured, I never missed a session," coach Phan Thi Huyen emotionally recounted.

Thanks to that, in addition to 3 National Gold Medals, Thuy also left her mark in regional tournaments. In 2024, at the age of 15, she excellently won the Gold Medal at the Central Highlands Vovinam Championship. In 2025, also at this tournament, she continued to participate in the final match and won the Silver Medal - an impressive achievement when the tournament gathered hundreds of young, talented athletes.

Thuy's next goal is to aim for the National Sports Festival in 2026 - when she will have just turned 17, eligible to participate in the tournament according to regulations. With the achievements she has made, the Coaching Board believes that Thuy will continue to maintain her form, compete confidently and reap results worthy of her persistent efforts over the past many years.