Her poor living conditions do not make her sad, and she has refused toallow her paralysis from stopping her from becoming a success.
Most people do not recognise Nguyen Thi Hong as she pushes herselfdown the street selling lottery tickets. Only some of them are awarethat Hong is a powerlifter who has won many titles and finished fourthat the London Paralympics last year.
Born like anyother normal baby in the central province of Quang Tri's Hai Langdistrict, Hong shouldered her poor parents' hopes of a brighter future.
But at the age of four, she was struck down by polio and lost the use of both of her legs.
"Having grown up in the land of many war heroes, I stayed strong. My motto was: Never give up," said Hong.
Hong did not have the chance to go to school because her family werepoor and her disability made it difficult for her to travel around.
Over time, Hong gradually became accustomed to her difficulties.
"I realised that there are millions of people around the world who areliving fulfilling lives, so why shouldn't I?" Hong said.
At the age of 15, Hong started out by herself running a street tea stall, despite her parents' protests.
"I said to them: Just because I can't use my legs, it does not meanthat I am disabled. I can do everything that other people do."
She managed to make a living from the stall, and little by little, shestarted to save. Three years later, Hong decided to go back to schooland started as a first-grade student aged 18.
"Atfirst the kids teased me, and I felt ashamed. Sometime I bust intotears. However, I wanted to prove to people that I was not a redundantcitizen, so I tried to focus on my studies. It took me only a few monthsto learn how to read and write fluently again," Hong said.
"In the same year, a local official asked me to take part in awheelchair race organised by the district. He registered my namealthough I had not agreed, and I was forced to take part in thetournament," recalled Hong.
"It turned out to be anice surprise because I won a gold medal and was selected to participatein a provincial competition a month later," she said, adding that shehad one again proved that she could be as successful as able-bodiedpeople.
The victory inspired Hong to compete at theNational Sports Games for People with Disabilities in 2003 in Hanoi, andshe had no difficulty in becoming the national champion in the women's3,000m event.
That same afternoon, someone suggestedthat she take part in the powerlifting event as well. Hong lifted 45kgand won a silver medal without a single day's training.
Months later Hong was called up to the national powerlifting team topractise for the Southeast Asian ParaGames. Since then she has stuckwith the new sport - and a new life.
"I still can'tbelieve it. I'd never trained before but I still won a lot of titles in ashort time," Hong said with smile.
A fairytale love
"I never thought about having a family with a husband and kids becauseof my disability, but then God brought him to me," Hong said about herbeloved husband, Nguyen Trong Vu.
When they werestill kids, Vu was the only one who visited Hong, and he describes heras having a beautiful and charming soul.
He still has no idea of exactly when he fell in love with her.
"When I told Hong that I loved her, she rejected my advances, but it was fate. We belong to each other," said Vu.
"I thought that starting a family would be too difficult for mebecause of my condition. There's a difference between being in love andbeing married. What would happen if we faced problems we could notsolve? Our families were also opposed to our relationship," Hongexplained.
This pressure pushed them apart for threeyears and Vu went in search of a stable life in Ho Chi Minh City. Lovebrought them back together though, and he asked her to run away with himto the City where they could start a new life together.
"The first days were difficult. I did everything I could make enoughmoney to support us, but the main thing was we were happy together," Vusaid.
In 2007, a third member of the family waswelcomed into the world, and the baby boy had the unwitting effect ofpulling the two families together.
"Our parents are happy for us now and accept me as a daughter-in-law and Vu as a son-in-law," Hong said.
Having moved a long way from her homeland, Hong seemed to forget abouther sport and spent all of her time caring for her little son andearning money to feed him.
However sport has become an indispensable part of her life.
"In 2010 the coach who trained me when I was in Quang Tri introducedme to a club for people with disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, and mycareer restarted," Hong recalled.
She added that she is lucky to be supported by a healthy husband who plays a key role in her success.
Hong wakes up early in the morning and leaves home at 6 am everyday to sell lottery tickets.
"On a good day I can sell them all in the morning and return home atnoon. If not I have to wander the streets until 3.30 pm just minutesbefore the lottery numbers are announced," said Hong.
"Selling lottery tickets helps me to look at life from a differentperspective. I meet all kinds of people and look at how they lead theirlives. Many of them look at me and realise that people with disabilitiesare just ordinary people.
"Sometimes, people recognise me and congratulate me. That makes my day."
Her day doesn't finish there because there's still the housework to do before she wheels herself to the club for training.
Hong is now a member of Tan Binh district's Culture and Sports Centre, as well as of Ho Chi Minh City's powerlifting team.
"Sportsmen and women must train everyday and never give up. I'm awarethat in any competition I represent Vietnam so I have to takeresponsibility for honouring my country and always trying my hardest,"Hong said.
"Powerlifting is hard for women,especially for people like me. In the past I was too eager and sometimestried to lift too much. This led to serious injuries and sometimes Iwas out of action for months. I told myself that to achieve success, Imust overcome these challenges."
"I have beenimpressed with Hong since I saw her at the 2003 competition. Shesurprised me with her gold at the Hanoi ParaGames," said coach Mai ChiDung.
"After signing a contract with Ho Chi MinhCity, she led by example, and her positive attitude has helped her towin many titles for us. She is not only a good athlete, but also adevoted trainer for young people," he said.
Hong nowown a collection of more than 20 titles including golds from theParaGames and the Asian Championships. However, the pinnacle of hercareer was being chosen to represent Vietnam at the London Paralympics,where she came agonisingly close to claiming a medal in the women's 40kgcategory.
The 34-year-old champion will head toMyanmar to compete for a title at the ParaGames later this month and addanother twist to her already incredible journey.-VNA
Most people do not recognise Nguyen Thi Hong as she pushes herselfdown the street selling lottery tickets. Only some of them are awarethat Hong is a powerlifter who has won many titles and finished fourthat the London Paralympics last year.
Born like anyother normal baby in the central province of Quang Tri's Hai Langdistrict, Hong shouldered her poor parents' hopes of a brighter future.
But at the age of four, she was struck down by polio and lost the use of both of her legs.
"Having grown up in the land of many war heroes, I stayed strong. My motto was: Never give up," said Hong.
Hong did not have the chance to go to school because her family werepoor and her disability made it difficult for her to travel around.
Over time, Hong gradually became accustomed to her difficulties.
"I realised that there are millions of people around the world who areliving fulfilling lives, so why shouldn't I?" Hong said.
At the age of 15, Hong started out by herself running a street tea stall, despite her parents' protests.
"I said to them: Just because I can't use my legs, it does not meanthat I am disabled. I can do everything that other people do."
She managed to make a living from the stall, and little by little, shestarted to save. Three years later, Hong decided to go back to schooland started as a first-grade student aged 18.
"Atfirst the kids teased me, and I felt ashamed. Sometime I bust intotears. However, I wanted to prove to people that I was not a redundantcitizen, so I tried to focus on my studies. It took me only a few monthsto learn how to read and write fluently again," Hong said.
"In the same year, a local official asked me to take part in awheelchair race organised by the district. He registered my namealthough I had not agreed, and I was forced to take part in thetournament," recalled Hong.
"It turned out to be anice surprise because I won a gold medal and was selected to participatein a provincial competition a month later," she said, adding that shehad one again proved that she could be as successful as able-bodiedpeople.
The victory inspired Hong to compete at theNational Sports Games for People with Disabilities in 2003 in Hanoi, andshe had no difficulty in becoming the national champion in the women's3,000m event.
That same afternoon, someone suggestedthat she take part in the powerlifting event as well. Hong lifted 45kgand won a silver medal without a single day's training.
Months later Hong was called up to the national powerlifting team topractise for the Southeast Asian ParaGames. Since then she has stuckwith the new sport - and a new life.
"I still can'tbelieve it. I'd never trained before but I still won a lot of titles in ashort time," Hong said with smile.
A fairytale love
"I never thought about having a family with a husband and kids becauseof my disability, but then God brought him to me," Hong said about herbeloved husband, Nguyen Trong Vu.
When they werestill kids, Vu was the only one who visited Hong, and he describes heras having a beautiful and charming soul.
He still has no idea of exactly when he fell in love with her.
"When I told Hong that I loved her, she rejected my advances, but it was fate. We belong to each other," said Vu.
"I thought that starting a family would be too difficult for mebecause of my condition. There's a difference between being in love andbeing married. What would happen if we faced problems we could notsolve? Our families were also opposed to our relationship," Hongexplained.
This pressure pushed them apart for threeyears and Vu went in search of a stable life in Ho Chi Minh City. Lovebrought them back together though, and he asked her to run away with himto the City where they could start a new life together.
"The first days were difficult. I did everything I could make enoughmoney to support us, but the main thing was we were happy together," Vusaid.
In 2007, a third member of the family waswelcomed into the world, and the baby boy had the unwitting effect ofpulling the two families together.
"Our parents are happy for us now and accept me as a daughter-in-law and Vu as a son-in-law," Hong said.
Having moved a long way from her homeland, Hong seemed to forget abouther sport and spent all of her time caring for her little son andearning money to feed him.
However sport has become an indispensable part of her life.
"In 2010 the coach who trained me when I was in Quang Tri introducedme to a club for people with disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City, and mycareer restarted," Hong recalled.
She added that she is lucky to be supported by a healthy husband who plays a key role in her success.
Hong wakes up early in the morning and leaves home at 6 am everyday to sell lottery tickets.
"On a good day I can sell them all in the morning and return home atnoon. If not I have to wander the streets until 3.30 pm just minutesbefore the lottery numbers are announced," said Hong.
"Selling lottery tickets helps me to look at life from a differentperspective. I meet all kinds of people and look at how they lead theirlives. Many of them look at me and realise that people with disabilitiesare just ordinary people.
"Sometimes, people recognise me and congratulate me. That makes my day."
Her day doesn't finish there because there's still the housework to do before she wheels herself to the club for training.
Hong is now a member of Tan Binh district's Culture and Sports Centre, as well as of Ho Chi Minh City's powerlifting team.
"Sportsmen and women must train everyday and never give up. I'm awarethat in any competition I represent Vietnam so I have to takeresponsibility for honouring my country and always trying my hardest,"Hong said.
"Powerlifting is hard for women,especially for people like me. In the past I was too eager and sometimestried to lift too much. This led to serious injuries and sometimes Iwas out of action for months. I told myself that to achieve success, Imust overcome these challenges."
"I have beenimpressed with Hong since I saw her at the 2003 competition. Shesurprised me with her gold at the Hanoi ParaGames," said coach Mai ChiDung.
"After signing a contract with Ho Chi MinhCity, she led by example, and her positive attitude has helped her towin many titles for us. She is not only a good athlete, but also adevoted trainer for young people," he said.
Hong nowown a collection of more than 20 titles including golds from theParaGames and the Asian Championships. However, the pinnacle of hercareer was being chosen to represent Vietnam at the London Paralympics,where she came agonisingly close to claiming a medal in the women's 40kgcategory.
The 34-year-old champion will head toMyanmar to compete for a title at the ParaGames later this month and addanother twist to her already incredible journey.-VNA
