Swimming

Watson Nguyễn is the first Vietnamese American swimmer to win a title at the USA Swimming National Championships. — Photo courtesy of SwimSwam

HÀ NỘI — The national swimming community is buzzing after American champion Watson Nguyễn was named among the competitors at the 2026 National Sports Games this December.

Nguyễn is a favourite in the men's breaststroke events of the southern province of An Giang after his breakthrough performance at the US championship in July.

The Vietnamese American 20-year-old, who is studying at the University of Pennsylvania, visited Việt Nam and discussed with the provincial sport authority his intention to compete. However, he will remain in the US for training and studying until the competitions.

The rising junior was one of the biggest surprises of the 2026 USA Swimming Championships.

Prior to the 50m breaststroke event, all eyes were on former world and Olympic relay champion Michael Andrew, who is one of the best-known swimmers in the US.

Nguyễn did nothing to attract attention as he had missed out on the finals at last year’s national championships, ultimately finishing in 11th place.

But sport proves itself a field of surprises and the unexpected.

Watson Nguyễn celebrates after winning the men's 50m breaststroke at the 2026 USA Swimming National Championships. — Photo courtesy of SwimSwam

Nguyễn was very close behind Andrew from the beginning of the neck-and-neck race, and with just several metres to go, the Dallas native's stamina prevailed. He was the first to touch the pool's wall, out-touching the Olympian to win the title.

When the results were announced, the crowd in the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Centre cheered while TV commentators expressed their surprise. Some said the US had just found a new breaststroke specialist.

Nguyễn improved his personal record by nearly a second en route to his first national title and the impressive 26.65-second finish helped make him the fourth-fastest swimmer in American history in the event.

Watson Nguyễn is the fourth-fastest swimmer in US 50m breaststroke history. — Photo courtesy of SwimSwam

Nguyễn first attended nationals at age 11 and remembered watching from the stands while imagining himself competing there one day.

“I feel great. I’ve been trying to shorten up that pull out so that I’m not staying too long at the 50m, and then just going to hit the rate. Just go for it. Not much thinking at all. Just hit your line, just go,” he said.

He added that the gold meant the world to him. He had dreamed of this moment since he was a little boy and hoped that one day he could do something truly special in the pool.

He followed it up the very next day by claiming bronze in the 100m breaststroke with a time of 59.79 seconds.

Man with a plan

His success on the national stage came following a standout sophomore campaign. He earned first-team All-Ivy honours after taking home gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke at the Ivy League Championships in February.

Nguyễn is just the second member of the Penn Quakers in programme history to capture a long-course national title, joining Matt Fallon, who won the 200m breaststroke in 2023.

Watson Nguyễn is a phenomenon in the American swimming community. — Photo courtesy of Penn Athletics

In the international arena, Nguyễn's best result was gold in the 4x100m relay and bronze in the 100m breaststroke at the 2023 World Youth Championships in Israel.

Watson Nguyễn was born in 2005 to a Vietnamese diaspora family in Plano, Dallas, Texas. The family still keeps in close touch with relatives in Việt Nam, with occasional visits.

“I’ve been back to Việt Nam several times. I really enjoy the flavours of the local food as well as the unique architecture of the cafes,” Nguyễn told Thanh Niên newspaper, recalling evening walks and stopping for street food and drinks.

News of Nguyễn was noted by Vietnamese sport authorities as An Giang invited him to compete under their jersey for this year's National Sports Games, which would be a test for the swimmer.

Watson Nguyễn plans to compete at Việt Nam's National Sports Games this December. — Photo courtesy of Penn Athletics

Like many athletes, Nguyễn is planning to achieve every swimmer’s dream: qualifying for the Olympics. But he recently acquired dual citizenship with the United States and Việt Nam, opening up the possibility of representing Việt Nam in international competitions, which could include the Olympics. The US Olympic swim team is the most competitive in the world.

“I’m going to go to some meets in Việt Nam and see how I enjoy the experience and if I feel like that’s something I really want to continue in the future,” Nguyễn was quoted as saying on thedp.com.

“I think about swimming, but outside of that, it’s more of a question of ‘Am I being true to myself?’”

Asked what advice he would give young Vietnamese athletes, Nguyễn pointed to the need to train consistently and accept sacrifices. “If you truly love the sport,” he said, “you will always find a way to succeed.” — VNS