Tiếng ViệtFor over 15 years of dedication to the Vovinam arena, athlete Lê Thị Hiền has become one of the icons of sports in Thanh Hóa Province. From a young girl training at her hometown club to a continental and world champion, Hiền’s journey is a testament to determination, perseverance, and boundless passion for Vietnam’s traditional martial art.
Lê Thị Hiền came to Vovinam by chance. In 2008, when she first started practicing martial arts at her local club, her natural talent soon became evident. She was discovered by coach Đỗ Huy Khương, who introduced her to the Thanh Hóa Sports Talent School.
After only a few months of training, Hiền won a silver medal at the 2011 National Youth Championship — the first milestone of her brilliant career.
Since then, her achievements have continued to grow. After winning four consecutive gold medals at the National Youth Championships (from 2012 to 2015), the athlete from Sao Vàng Commune made her mark at the National Championship with her first gold medal in 2015.
Over the past decade, Lê Thị Hiền has won a total of nine national gold medals (2015–2017, 2019–2020, 2022–2025), along with five gold medals at the National Clubs Cup.
Notably, on the international stage, Hiền has earned two SEA Games gold medals (31st and 32nd editions), two World Championship gold medals (India 2017, Vietnam 2023), and one Asian gold medal (Indonesia 2024). This is one of the most remarkable achievement records in the history of Vovinam Thanh Hóa.
(Photo: Người Lao Động Newspaper)
Speaking about her emotions at international tournaments, Hiền shared: “I treat every match as a final. At the 32nd SEA Games, I once thought about giving up because of a recurring knee injury. But thanks to the encouragement of my coaches, teammates, and my pride for the national colors, I persevered… The moment I stood on the top podium, draped in the national flag and singing the national anthem, I cried with pride.”
(Photo: Báo Người Lao Động)
Head coach of the Thanh Hóa Vovinam Team, Mr. Lê Văn Tiến, described Lê Thị Hiền as “a true leader.” Not only outstanding in her skills, diligence, endurance, and fiery fighting spirit, Hiền is also a role model for her teammates.
According to Coach Tiến, the female fighter from Thanh Hóa is a rare talent in provincial Vovinam, maintaining consistent performance with nine national championships over a decade, always competing with determination and wholehearted effort.
Off the mat, Hiền is known for her respectfulness, humility, and her habit of encouraging and supporting younger teammates in both training and competitions.
Her journey — from a newcomer to the team’s cornerstone — has left a deep impression on her coaches: that of an athlete full of willpower, responsibility, and unwavering devotion to the national colors.
According to the coaching staff, Lê Thị Hiền stands out not only for her strong, confident fighting style but also as an important source of morale for the Thanh Hóa Vovinam Team. Her journey is an inspiring example for the younger generation — a story of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence.
Looking ahead to the World Championship at the end of this year, the Thanh Hóa fighter is determined to defend her gold medal and continue to affirm Vietnam’s Vovinam status on the global martial arts map.
(By Hoàng Sơn – Thanh Hóa Newspaper)