PANO - Vietnam’s top swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien has won the title “Best Athlete of the Year of 2015”, successfully defending her title for the third consecutive year.

According to the ratings by local sports officials, experts and journalists, Vien received the highest number of votes with 1,031 points, followed by short-distance runner Nguyen Thi Huyen (619 points), tennis player Ly Hoang Nam (585 points), gymnast Pham Thi Ha Thanh (501) and weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan (482 points).

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien.

2015 was a successful year for swimmer Vien, who is now a non-commissioned Captain from Defence Sports and Physical Training Centre 4 of Military Zone 9 of the Vietnam People’s Army, as she bagged eight golds and broke eight records at the 28th SEA Games.

Additionally, she pocketed one silver and two bronzes at the International Swimming Federation (FINA) Swimming World Cup; seven golds at the Asian Age Group Championships; and one gold, one silver and one bronze at the Military World Games.

Recently, Vien has been named one of Asia's five best female swimmers by the USA-based Swim Swam magazine. It was the first time a Vietnamese athlete has been honoured on this list.

Vien’s coach Dang Anh Tuan also won the title “Best Coach of the Year of 2015”. It was the second time the coach has been presented the title, after 2013.

At present, Vien and Tuan are attending the training course in the USA to prepare for the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games.

The awards for the Best Athlete with Disabilities and Best Coach of an Athlete with Disabilities came to weightlifter Le Van Cong and his coach Nguyen Hong Phuc, respectively.

Source: Vnexpress

Translated by Pham Huy