LookAtVietnam – Teenage prodigy Hoang Quy Phuoc set a national record in the men’s 50m freestyle at the National Short Distance Swimming Championships at the Ha Noi Sports Centre for Top Athletes yesterday.

Nguyen Huu Viet.

The Da Nang-born swimmer also pocketed two gold medals in his first day in the 25m pool on Wednesday.

He finished the men’s 200m freestyle in 1:54.34, before taking first place in the men’s 100m freestyle relay.

In the men’s 400m medley, Vo Thai Nguyen from An Giang broke the national record with a time of 4:32.14 seconds.

HCM City took top honours with seven golds, seven silvers and four bronzes.

Hai Phong-born Nguyen Huu Viet smashed his own record on Wednesday night.

The 21-year-old swimmer finished the men’s 100m breast-stroke in 1:02.44, surpassing the record of 1:02.7, he set at last year’s championship.

At the Beijing Olympics last August, Viet clocked in at 1:06.36 and was disqualified from the finals.

Viet’s win was the only gold medal for Hai Phong at the curtain-raiser and its first record at the short course championship.

At last year’s championship in HCM City, the Olympian also debuted with a record in the 50m breaststroke.

In the women’s 50m breaststroke, Hanoian Vu Thuy Duong grabbed the gold with a time of 33.27 seconds, just 0.08 from levelling the national record of 33.15.

Record holder Bui Thi Hai Y of Long An came in second at 33.87.

National team member Do Huy Long of Ha Noi clocked in at 58.05 seconds in the men’s 100m backstroke.

Long just returned from prolonged training in China.

“As a national swimmer, I have to train abroad for tough competitions. I’ve only been home during the Tet holidays. This time, I will reserve power for Asian Indoor Games in September and the Southeast Asian Games in December,” Long said.

HCM City athletes dominated in long distance divisions.

An Do Hanh and Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen finished first and second in the women’s 200m butterfly on Wednesday.

Vo Thi Thanh Vy won the gold in the women’s 400m medley with at time of 5:09.72.

Just 15 minutes later, Hanh, Vy, Tuyen and Tran Tam Nguyen stood on the victory podium for the women’s 200m freestyle relay.

The eight-day championship will close next Wednesday.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News