VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

By Staff reporters   October 1, 2022 | 10:28 pm PT
More than 1000 athletes tested their endurance and speed at the Aquaman Vietnam, an aquathlon hosted by VnExpress Sunday morning in the northern Quang Ninh Province.
VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

The transit area for the race opened at 4.30 a.m. to welcome the first athletes. Aquaman Vietnam, the first major aquathlon to be organized in the country, consisted of a swimming segment and a running segment near Tra Co Beach.

Light rain covered the area momentarily before it turned cloudy and cool.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Athletes warm up for the race. In the most challenging category, they have to swim two kilometers and run 21 km.

The Half Aqua category is 1 km of swimming and 10 km of running, while the Sprint category is a 500 m swimming lap and a 5 km run.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Nguyen Ngoc Trien of Hai Phong City completed the first swimming lap of 500 m in 6 minutes in the sea.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Athletes rush out into the sea for the swimming segment. Those swimming 2 km have to complete four laps.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

After swimming, athletes returned to the transit area to prepare for the run. Most spent 30-60 seconds here, and some consumed energy gels before leaving.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Runner Bui Binh Minh high fives with volunteers.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Do Van Hoang, 22, was the winner of the relay race (competing in groups) thanks to a speed boost in the last 10 kilometers.

“The weather was beautiful. The race course was impressive,” he said.

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Vu Dinh Duan, 25, won the individual Aquaman category, surpassing Vo Xuan Vinh in the last 500 m of the race by a few seconds.

Duan had never swum in the sea before, he said. “I took some sips in the beginning, but I gained the advantage of wearing the same suit throughout the race and did not need to spend time changing.”

VnExpress’s Aquaman Vietnam contest attracts 1,000 athletes

Nguyen Phan Thuy Van, 44, was the first female finisher thanks to several years of experience participating in triathlons.

“Seeing my daughter swimming two kilometers with her teammates gave me the motivation to finish the race,” Van said of the kids' version held a day earlier.

 
 
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