Athletics

Quách Thị Lan is currently Việt Nam's top runner in the 400m and 400m hurdles. VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

Thanh Hà

In 2023, Quách Thị Lan secluded herself in her hometown, quietly watching the 32nd SEA Games – an event she would have competed in alongside her teammates for Việt Nam had it not been for a mistake that kept her from chasing gold.

Fast-forward to this month, and Lan is in intensive training in preparation for the 33rd Games , where she aims to repeat her best performance by winning two titles in the women's 4x400m relay and 400m hurdles events in Thailand next month.

Although Lan was a regular member in the relay team that dominated the region for many years, the 31st Games in Hà Nội was the first time that she won the individual 400m hurdles.

However, Lan was accused of an unintentional doping violation and her titles were subsequently stripped. That nightmare was followed by an 18-month ban that prevented her from taking part in all running activities at all levels.

"The day I was informed that I would be able to run again, I was so happy I cried," Lan said.

But that joy was only the beginning. She had difficulty catching up with training intensity, and her performances were unstable. Thanks to the encouragement of her coaches, family and teammates, Lan gradually regained her form and the confidence of an Asian champion.

Quách Thị Lan hopes to win individual titles at the 33rd SEA Games. VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

"The ban was a strong hit for me but the time spent away from the track helped me review myself and I deeply understood that running is my passion. So I prepared for a remarkable comeback," she said.

“I think that I grew up a lot after the incident, and I tried my best to return to the national team for the upcoming SEA Games,” said Lan, who turned 30 last month.

Targeting gold

Coach Nguyễn Thị Bắc said Lan was called up to the national team because she had regained high form, as illustrated by her results in several domestic tournaments, including gold in the national championship.

She took part in two major international tournaments, the Asian Relay Championships 2024 and the Asian Athletics Championships 2025, where she won one gold and one silver, respectively, and set a national 4x400m relay record of 3min 30.81sec.

Quách Thị Lan wins her first tournament after the 18-month ban. VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

Lan is excited to represent Việt Nam, win medals and, more importantly, take on her main rivals in the upcoming Games.

“I just want to scream out loud with joy that I made it,” Lan said. "I have watched runners from Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia, and they were really fast. They will create challenges for me."

Lan, the oldest and most experienced member of the women's running squad, would be Việt Nam’s secret weapon this December, her teammates said. She did not join the national team’s training camp in France in October, instead remaining at home to follow a special, personalised programme designed by the coaching staff.

Coach Vũ Ngọc Lợi said Lan was trained in private to improve her skills. The training was tough as it is key to building her physical strength. She was asked to maintain a good speed until the final metres while refining her technique for the 400m hurdles, where every step determines her performance and result.

“I am used to high intensity training so I completed the exercises well,” said Lan. "The coaching staff has not announced the final decision for the team and I have no idea what category I will take on, but I need to prepare well for all of them."

Quách Thị Lan has secured a number of titles in her career. — VNS Photo Hoàng Linh

Lan took individual titles at the Asian Games in 2018, Asian Championship in 2017 and 2019, and team crowns in both continental and regional competitions. She was also the only Southeast Asian runner to advance to the semi-finals of the Tokyo Olympics' 400m hurdles, setting a milestone for Việt Nam.

Lan said she was confident and comfortable as she waited for the largest sports festival of the region.

The 33rd SEA Games will be a moment when she gets to write a new chapter in her career: a brilliant comeback.

“The road ahead is still full of challenges. I have devoted all my youth to running, and as long as I still have the strength, I will continue to contribute,” Lan asserted. VNS