HCMC athlete Vu Dinh Duan completes champion hat-trick at DNSE Aquaman Vietnam

He finished the race in a record time of 1 hour, 53 minutes, and 21 seconds, marking his third solo title at the event.

The third season of DNSE Aquaman Vietnam kicked off at Ho Tram, Ba Ria - Vung Tau on the morning of Dec. 1. The Aquaman distance race began at 6 a.m., attracting significant attention, particularly from the Ho Chi Minh City triathlon team, which included Vu Dinh Duan, the two-time defending champion, who aimed to break his personal record and defend his title.

Vu Dinh Duan in action during the race. Photo by AV

As the starting signal sounded, Duan dove into the sea alongside other athletes.

He completed the swimming section in 25 minutes and 23 seconds, finishing in fourth place behind relay competitors Le Hoang Minh An, Vo Minh Khang, and foreign athlete Nemchinov Vasily in the solo category.

However, he lost over 3 minutes in the transition area as he prepared for the marathon section.

Despite this setback, Duan quickly showcased his marathon prowess. Starting strong, he maintained a pace of 4 minutes and 11 seconds per kilometer. From the 10-kilometer mark onwards, the champion increased his speed to 3:48 per kilometer, overtaking his competitors and clinching the title with a time of 1 hour, 53 minutes, and 21 seconds—more than 4 minutes ahead of the runner-up. This victory not only secured his third title but also shattered his previous personal best by 7 minutes.

"If in the last two seasons I swam with only 80% of my energy, then this year I set my sights on breaking my personal record, so I didn't hesitate to surge right from the beginning. My swimming pace was 1:16 per 100 meters, and my running pace was around 4:20," Duan said after the race.

He credited his improved performance to a combination of experience from previous seasons and favorable conditions. "Though there were waves on the beach, they weren't too significant. The organizers designed the swimming route to be L-shaped, with clear sightlines to the buoys. As long as you breathe right, you can stay on course without veering off. The running route had only a slight incline at kilometer 14, which I found quite manageable," he added.

Vu Dinh Duan enters the marathon section. Photo by AV

In preparation for this championship, Duan adhered to a rigorous training plan focused on quantity, speed, and additional exercises.

He also participated in marathon races to maintain a competitive edge.

For swimming, Duan concentrated on building endurance, practicing 4x1,000 meters and 5x800 meters in the pool.

"I focused more on swimming this year, which is why I performed better in that segment compared to running. Unfortunately, I could only train in the pool and didn’t have the chance to swim in the ocean during my preparations. I might have had even better results if I had been able to train in the sea regularly."

Vu Dinh Duan's third time snatching the ribbon for the Aquaman Vietnam championship. Photo by AV

After his victory at Ho Tram, Duan expressed his plans to continue competing in the future. "I want to see how long I can keep my championship streak going," he said. For the time being, the 1997-born athlete has set his sights on securing an official spot in the SEA Games 2025 in Thailand.

Duan, an athlete with the Ho Chi Minh City triathlon team, has been the Aquaman Vietnam champion since the event's first season. His initial win at Tra Co also inspired him to pursue a bronze medal in the aquathlon team event at SEA Games 32 in 2023.

Before transitioning to professional aquathlon, Duan trained and competed in athletics within the military from 2012. However, he retired after four years due to various reasons. More than a year later, Duan made a comeback in casual marathon races, finding the inspiration to resume his training.

Vu Dinh Duan after completing two swimming laps. Photo by AV

The DNSE Aquaman Vietnam event concluded at 11 a.m. on Dec. 1.

In the women's category, Nguyen Thi Kim Cuong secured second place, as there were no other competitors.

In the Half Aqua race, HCMC team athletes Nguyen Nhut Kiet and Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen finished first. The champions in the Sprint Aqua men's and women's categories were Phan Huynh Gia Vinh and Nguyen Thi Hiep, respectively. The relay race champions were Nguyen Van Loi and Le Hoang Minh An.