Brian Jeffrey
Trinh Thu Vinh has had an incredible year marked by significant accomplishments.
She won a gold medal in the mixed 10m air pistol event at the Asian Shooting Championships and achieved a commendable fourth place at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which was the best result for Vietnam.
Her remarkable performance led her to receive two honored titles: Female Athlete of the Year at the Victory Cup (often referred to as Vietnam’s sports “Oscar”) and National Athlete of the Year 2024.
Despite her accolades, the 25-year-old athlete from Thanh Hoa reflected on the disappointment of narrowly missing an Olympic medal in the air pistol final.
Vinh commented on her Olympic experience, saying, “Competing in my first Olympics made me quite anxious, as it’s the most prestigious event in the world.”
“I surpassed my personal bests, yet I fell short of achieving glory for my nation.
I lacked a bit of skill and luck during the competition.
Post-competition, I thoroughly assessed my performance and recognized the need for more dedication.
This experience is a crucial lesson that motivates my aspiration to one day raise our national flag on the global platform.
Since returning, my primary goal has been to prepare for the next Olympics and address this ‘unfinished business.’”
Outside of shooting, Trinh Thu Vinh is recognized for her lively spirit and friendly nature, a contrast to her calm and composed presence during matches.
Her emotional side was evident during the farewell of her coach, Park Chung Gun, from the Vietnamese shooting team, where she struggled to contain her tears and needed a moment alone to process her emotions.
As the new year approaches, when questioned about any aspirations outside sport to “bring something special for her mother,” Vinh modestly replied that her main focus is solely on her shooting career.
“I aim to become a stronger version of myself in 2025.
The coaching staff has established objectives for the year, and I am committed to achieving them.
My goal is to compete in the 33rd SEA Games and aim for top results there.
For other domestic and international events, I’ll closely collaborate with my coaches to give it my all,” she shared.
Trinh Thu Vinh was born in 2000 in Van Du (Thach Thanh, Thanh Hoa) and began her athletic journey in seventh grade.
She was initially discovered by a coach in the cau may (rattan ball game) due to her athletic build and subsequently joined the track and field team of the People’s Police.
After three years of limited success in athletics, she was encouraged to switch to shooting.
Remarkably, she adapted quickly; within three months, she excelled and earned a position on the shooting team.
Just a year later, she won two gold medals and established a national youth record in the 10m air pistol category at the 2018 National Youth Shooting Championships.
Now, Trinh Thu Vinh stands as Vietnam’s top female shooter in both the 10m air pistol and 25m sports pistol events.
As she progresses, her dedication to improvement and excellence continues to inspire Vietnam’s sporting community.
