National Sports Games

Nguyễn Văn Lãm of Thanh Hóa competes in the men's 5km cross country time trial event during the National Sports Games on Saturday in Hòa Bình Province. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Nguyễn Văn Lãm proved he can live up to the hype, winning one gold and one silver in his National Sports Games debut.

The 18-year-old athlete claimed his first senior tournament title in the men's 5km cross-country time trial. He was first with a time of 19.41min on Saturday in Hòa Bình Province.

One day later with teammates Nguyễn Hữu Sang and Phạm Minh Đạt, he finished second in the men's team cross-country relay.

It was Thanh Hóa's first gold medal at the quadrennial National Sports Games. He was pinned as a golden hope of the province in the coming tournaments and proved himself well. Already there is talk of him representing the national side.

"I was born in a farming family in Tuyên Hóa District, Quảng Bình Province. I have been in love with sports, especially cycling, since I was a little boy. So I spent time watching many local and international tournaments on TV," said Lãm.

"When I was an eighth grader in 2018, I knew Thanh Hóa Province scouts hunting young athletes for cycling. So I joined the test and was selected. My new life started in August of that year,” he said.

With solid support from his family, 14-year-old Lãm left his home town where he had to live, work and practice independently.

Difficulties, obstacles and homesickness were all problems in his first days. However, his passion for cycling, strong effort, and dedicated encouragement from coaches helped him overcome all.

Lãm showed his remarkable potential, especially in the mountain bike category.

"It seemed that my early life in the mountainous commune of Kim Hóa Commune helped me a lot. I had to cycle over the mountain, cross country, pass hilly terrain to school, and go around my commune with friends," Lãm said.

His skills were intensely sharpened under Thanh Hóa coaches, and he shone brilliantly in the National Youth Cycling Championship in 2020.

Lãm won a gold and two silvers in the boys' U16 cross country in individual, team and relay events.

A year later, he grabbed a silver in the cross-country time trial in the National Cycling Championship, just behind undefeated cyclist Đinh Văn Linh of Hòa Bình Province.

Early this year, Lãm returned to competition after the COVID pandemic. He was one of Thanh Hóa's athletes competing in the April HCM City Television Cycling Tournament, one of the largest cycling tournaments of the year.

In his first time, Lãm finished 34th among 98 competitors and placed eighth in the ranking for young ones. His results did not give him a medal, but according to Thanh Hóa coaches, it was pretty good and promised to be better soon.

He won two golds and two silvers in the National Youth Road Race and Mountain Bike Championship on home ground in August.

Nguyễn Văn Lãm (left) is given a bonus after winning a historic National Sports Games gold medal in cycling for Thanh Hóa Province. Photo baothanhhoa.vn

On December 10, Lãm beat his senior Linh. Linh tried hard but could only cross the finish line at 15sec faster than him.

"Our coaching board has worked out the most suitable tactics for athletes. As a result, our cyclists, especially Lãm, received strong support to bring into play their strong points and grabbed the highest results," said coach Nguyễn Duy Chiến, head of Thanh Hóa Cycling Department.

In the coming days, Lãm and his teammates will participate in the individual and team cross-country and time trial events.

Lãm is expected to bag more gold to help the province complete their target of 41 titles, which is the heaviest duty of Thanh Hóa over nine National Sports Games editions. VNS