LookAtVietnam – Vietnamese swimmers broke 23 records at the National Swimming Championships last week, which will hopefully provide momentum for the team

Tuyen shocked the attending coaches with her rapid improvement since winning a silver medal at the girls’ U-14 100m butterfly at the Southeast Asian Junior Swimming Championship in Malaysia.

Only two years ago, the 15-year-old swimmer finished the 100m butterfly in 1:05.76 for a silver medal at the national championship, but this year she was able to clock a 1:04.97.

She recorded the 100m butterfly with a time 1:02.72 at the national championships in Ha Noi.

The swimmer credits her improved time to her intense training regimen.

As usual I start swimming at the pool at 4:30am before going to school, and I return to the pool in the afternoon and train until the evening,” said Tuyen. “I only sleep about six hours a day.”

The coaching staff for the national team hopes that the record-breaking performances will provide ample momentum for the team.

“We hope that the coaches will continue with their training programmes, which will help the athletes get into peak condition for the Indoor Games and SEA Games,” said Aquatic Sports Association’s general secretary Dinh Viet Hung.

Man on a mission

Breaststroke swimmer Nguyen Huu Viet has improved his personal best after training for six months in Kunming, China.

Viet, an Olympian from Hai Phong, has landed six records this year. He was able to set three new records at the championship, in addition to the three he already set in March.

“It was an impressive feat. He needs only two months to improve his personal best,” said the coach Tran Anh Tuan. “It’s the right coaching programme for Viet.”

At the Beijing Olympics, Viet finished 58 out of 63 in the 100m breaststroke qualifier.

“Viet’s target is 2012 Olympics in London, but the coaching board expects him to do his best at the Asian Indoor Games and the SEA Games first,” Tuan added.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News