Vietnam's number one female swimmer wants to retire

Vien proposed her desire to HCMC National Sport Training Center not long after returning from the Olympics in August. She asked not to be called up to the national team and wanted to retire from professional swimming due to her age and continuously slipping form. Vien affirmed she had considered her decision carefully.

Tran Duc Phan, deputy director of Department of Physical Education and Sports, said on Friday: "The reason might be the pressure after competing at Tokyo Olympics. We are finding a solution and encouraging Vien to continue her career."

Vien had retired once before, in 2020, but decided to return to swimming. Currently, all related parties want her to continue and compete at SEA Games 31, set to take place in May 2022.

Vien, 25, is the most successful Vietnamese swimmer in history.

During 10 years of her professional career, Vien has won 25 SEA Games golds, a silver and a bronze in Asian tournaments, two bronze at Asian Games, a Youth Olympic gold and many more. She has dominated domestic swimming in Vietnam for years, holding many accolades and records.

Vien participated in Olympics 2016 and 2021 but couldn’t make it past the first round in both events.

From 2012-2019, her total investment budget reached over $1.3 million - the most ever for a Vietnamese athlete.