Nguyen Dinh Toan (Front) performs along with a teammate

Taekwondo artist and former scrap picker Nguyen Dinh Toan, 23, won Vietnam its first two gold medals at the 25th SEA Games this week.

In the team event, Toan performed with Le Trung Anh and Vu Thanh Duong. In the mixed pair event, Toan won together with Nguyen Minh Tu.

Born to poor parents, Toan had to quit school to support his family by collecting and selling scrap when he was only 12, he told Thanh Nien.

A small boy for his age, Toan was often bullied by his peers. He decided to learn martial arts in Ha Dong District, now in Hanoi, so that he could stand up for himself.

Toan caught the eye of the national taekwondo team coach, Le Minh Cuong as he scouted new talent at martial arts classes around the country in 2001.

Watching Toan practicing, Cuong was impressed with his passion and energy. The coach then asked Toan to pursue Taekwondo.

Toan said after Cuong taught him about the philosophy of martial arts, he no longer saw “fighting” as the goal. Instead Toan wanted to master all the patterns for performance.

The young martial artist also went back to school and he passed the entrance exam to the University of Physical Education and Sports in 2008, the same year he won his first international gold medal.

Reported by Hoang Quynh