Swimming

Rising swimming star Trần Văn Nguyễn Quốc is expected to help lift Vietnamese swimming to a higher level on the international stage. — VNS Photo Viết Niệm

Thanh Hà

Five gold medals, five victories in every freestyle event he entered, and a new championship record — Trần Văn Nguyễn Quốc announced himself as one of Asia's brightest young swimmers at the 2026 Asian Age Group Swimming Championships, emerging as Việt Nam's standout performer and offering fresh hope for the country's ambitions on the international stage.

He won five gold medals in every freestyle event in the boys' 17-18-year-old category at the championship in Thailand and set a new tournament record.

His outstanding performance helped Việt Nam earn 14 gold medals and finish fourth in the medal tally.

"I'm really excited to have won five gold medals at the Asian Championships. Although it was a youth tournament, I gave my best every time I got into the pool," said Quốc, who is regarded as a promising swimmer capable of achieving strong results for Việt Nam in international competitions.

Trần Văn Nguyễn Quốc (centre) wins the boys' 17-18-year-old 400m freestyle and sets a new championship record at the 12th Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. — Photo courtesy of VASA

A week after the continental tournament, Quốc continued his impressive form, winning six gold medals at the National Youth Swimming Championship 2026, which closed on July 28 in Đà Nẵng.

Born swimmer

The prince of freestyle began his swimming career at the age of seven when he was taken to the pool to learn survival skills to help prevent drowning.

But the little boy impressed the coaches at the Đà Nẵng Sport Training and Competition Centre with the physical attributes considered ideal for swimming, including his tall stature, flexible ankle and shoulder joints, and long arm span.

After school, Quốc devoted himself to the pool, training relentlessly regardless of the season. His dedication saw him progress from the national junior team to the senior squad, culminating in the most successful year of his career in 2025.

At the National Short Course Swimming Championship last March, Quốc, then aged 16, caused a sensation when he defeated many senior rivals to win the men's 200m freestyle.

Among those he defeated were veterans Hoàng Quý Phước and Nguyễn Huy Hoàng, who won bronze medals in the event at the 31st and 32nd SEA Games, respectively.

Trần Văn Nguyễn Quốc has set his sights on even bigger international competitions following his breakthrough at the Asian Age Group Swimming Championships. — VNS Photo Viết Niệm

Later, he took gold in the 50m freestyle in 22.40sec, setting a new national record and breaking the previous mark of 22.74sec set by Phước in 2017.

Not only did he excel in the individual events, he also shone in the relays, helping Đà Nẵng win gold in both the 4x100m and 4x200m freestyle events while setting two more national records.

Two months later, he faced no challenge as he dominated the National Age Groups Swimming Championship. In his six golds for Đà Nẵng, five were from freestyle events.

He was then selected to represent Việt Nam in the Southeast Asian Age Groups Swimming Championship in June.

Competing in the regional tournament for the first time, Quốc won five gold medals, one silver and one bronze — all in freestyle — becoming the best athlete in the 16-18-year-old category.

The teenager subsequently earned a place in Việt Nam's team for the Thailand SEA Games in December, the biggest event of his career to date.

Winning one gold, three silver and one bronze medals at the Games was not only an unexpected achievement for Quốc but also earned him regional recognition.

He went head-to-head with defending champion Khiew Hoe Yean of Malaysia in a thrilling men's 400m freestyle final. Although Khiew successfully defended his title, finishing around three seconds ahead, Quốc had earlier pushed the Malaysian to the limit in the 200m freestyle, missing out on gold by just 0.06sec.

“In my first SEA Games, I just had one target: don't be left behind from other swimmers. Winning a medal was a milestone in my career. I was really, really happy," he recalled.

Trần Văn Nguyễn Quốc (left) and his teammates celebrate their victory in the men's 4x200m freestyle relay at the 33rd SEA Games.

Quốc's gold was in the men's 4×200m which was the first time that Việt Nam won in the regional biennial Games.

"I was the third swimmer. My task was to narrow the gap with our rivals and set up our anchor swimmer for the finish. The gold was unexpected as Việt Nam had never won the event before," he said.

"But we made it and I was so excited that I couldn't sleep that night. More than a gold in the first SEA Games, it was Việt Nam's history. That was a very special emotion."

Greater goals

"I am pleased to have become a professional swimmer. I have already achieved important milestones for myself and for Việt Nam, and I am proud of that," said Quốc.

"Training and competing are not always easy. There is exhaustion and heavy pressure. Sometimes I have even wanted to quit, but when I look back at everything I have achieved, together with the support I have received from so many people, I find the motivation to get back into the pool and swim faster.

"I always keep in mind that I need to surpass myself before thinking about overcoming my opponents."

Coaches believe Trần Văn Nguyễn Quốc has the potential to become one of Việt Nam's leading swimmers on the international stage.

Coach Châu Bá Anh Tư believed Quốc had enormous potential. He described him as an ambitious swimmer who was constantly pushing himself to improve and said that, given his young age, Quốc was capable of reaching even greater heights in the future.

"My goal this year is to earn a place on Việt Nam's Asian Games team. I also want to qualify for the finals in every event I compete in," Quốc said.

"Looking further ahead, I hope to represent Việt Nam at the Youth Olympics in Senegal and deliver a strong performance there." — VNS