Pham Thi Binh's 14-year-old student finished first in 5km VM Hue

"Ms. Binh taught me not to give up. Will and perseverance were the first lessons I was taught by her," Dinh Thi Kim Phuong (14 years old, Quang Ngai) said after the finish line of the MetaSports Marathon Imperial Hue 2023. That's the reason why Phuong, even though she fell, was very painful, but she quickly got up and did her best to reach the finish line. Phuong is the youngest runner to receive the prize of this year's tournament.

MetaSports Marathon Imperial Hue 2023 is the first tournament in Dinh Thi Kim Phuong's life. Phuong belongs to the athletics team of Quang Ngai province. The girl was brought to Hue by coach - "barefoot queen" Pham Thi Binh with the purpose of meeting many people, rubbing to train her will and fighting spirit. As a result, the 14-year-old athlete completed the 5km distance in 21 minutes and 29 seconds, leaving the second person more than three minutes away, becoming the champion. "I don't think I'll win because I haven't practiced anything for two weeks," Phuong said.

A week before the tournament, my family had a big event, Phuong's father died due to illness. For the past month, I have been standing by my father's side for almost a month, unable to gather with the team. "Phuong's situation is quite special. My parents divorced, I lived with my father. After my father died, I was alone," coach Pham Thi Binh shared. She said that, in order for Phuong to participate in the MetaSports Marathon Hue, some local athletes and movement runners support her physically and mentally.

The first time she attended the event of 10,500 athletes, the 14-year-old girl was a bit surprised and overwhelmed. Entering the starting line, I stood behind. But when the signal to start, Phuong passed quickly, almost no opponent during the 5km distance. I am much faster than the female athletes competing in the same distance.

"On the track, I didn't have any difficulties except there were parts of the rain that hit me in the face, making me quite burning and the fall was close to the finish line," Phuong said.

Two years ago, through the introduction of a gym teacher, coach Pham Thi Binh traveled 100km from the center of Quang Ngai city to Phuong's house in the mountainous district of Son Tay. After taking quality tests and practicing practice, in 2021, I officially joined the Quang Ngai athletics team. Since then, Phuong has only studied techniques, theory and participated in small races, distances of 800, 1,500m, never actually competed in the distance of 5km. Coach Pham Thi Binh assessed that the girl has the qualities of a track and field athlete.

"I have a small body, the speed is very fast. Hopefully after these tournaments, Phuong will have more motivation to try and practice more seriously," Ms. Binh said. I hope, in the following years, you can increase the distance to 10km, or beyond to full marathon and half marathon.

After two years of eating, staying, and practicing with her teacher, Kim Phuong feels admiring the talent, discipline and passion for running of coach Pham Thi Binh. "Miss Binh is my idol. I dream that one day I can compete for the national team in the marathon distance at the SEA Games and win a gold medal like her," Phuong confided.

That's the dream, but Phuong understands that the road to the marathon is still very long, it takes a lot of effort. Currently, for me, studying and working hard is a top priority. "I want to practice well, if I have the opportunity, I will ask to compete in order not to disappoint the teacher and make my father feel at ease," Phuong confided.

Phuong's trip to Hue this time doubled the joy because Ms. Binh is also the champion of the women's 42km distance. The two girls spent time visiting a few places in Hue before returning to Quang Ngai. "This time, we both went to the competition and went on a trip, as a reward for each other after a period of many events and hardships," said Binh with a laugh.

The third season of MetaSports Marathon Imperial Hue ended on April 16, 8 men's and women's four-distance final champions were found. In groups of 5 and 10km are completely new faces. Ring of Vanh Long, Nguyen Thi Thanh Xuan the most men and women 10km; Tong Nguyen Gia Hung, Dinh Thi Kim Phuong won the 5km championship. All are under the age of 30.