Thi Linh Phuong Dang

Started: She began Para powerlifting in 2011 at the Sport and Cultural Centre of Tan Binh District in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (Athlete, 03 Dec 2017) Reason: A work colleague encouraged her to take up Para powerlifting. She decided to pursue the sport after winning a gold medal at the 2011 Vietnamese National Para Games. "That first gold medal was a driving force for me to follow this sport." (vietnamnet.vn, 19 Mar 2021; asvho.vn, 07 Dec 2016) Ambition: To win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris. Outside of sport, she wants to establish a nail salon business. (thethaovietnamplus.vn, 07 Mar 2024) Milestones: She became the first female athlete representing Vietnam to win a medal at the Paralympic Games when she claimed bronze in the 50kg category at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (SportsDeskOnline, 10 Jun 2019; myinfo.rio2016.com, 13 Sep 2016) Awards: She was named an Excellent Para Athlete at the 2019 Vietnam Sports Glory awards in Hanoi, Vietnam. She also received the same award for 2023. (thethao.sggp.org.vn, 27 Mar 2019; thethaovietnamplus.vn, 23 Mar 2024, 07 Mar 2024) She received a sporting achievement award at the 2015 National Para Sport Awards in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. (parasport.vn, 2015) Additional Info: RETIREMENT THOUGHTS AND FUTURE PLANS She had planned to retire after the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, before the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but ultimately decided to continue competing past the Games. She left her job at a nail salon to focus on the 2020 ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines, which was cancelled, and plans to open her own salon in the future. "Currently [speaking in 2024], in addition to training and competing, I also do nail art to earn extra income. I am also getting old and don't have much time left to compete, so I hope I would have enough money to open a nail art salon to satisfy my passion for making people beautiful." (vietnamnet.vn, 19 Mar 2021; baotintuc.vn, 08 Oct 2018; thethaovietnamplus.vn, 07 Mar 2024)