7th grader in Ho Chi Minh City awarded First-Class Labor Order

“I was so happy and surprised,” said Tuong, a student in class 7/11 at Minh Duc Middle School in Cau Ong Lanh Ward.

Tuong is a talented aerobic gymnast who has recently achieved a series of outstanding results at international competitions.

At the Suzuki World Cup 2026, held in Tokyo, Japan in April, she won gold medals in both the women's individual and trio events.

She continued her impressive performance at the 2026 Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships in the Philippines in August, claiming two gold medals in the trio and five-person group events, as well as a silver medal in the women's individual event.

She told Tuoi Tre (Youth) online newspaper that the First-Class Labor Order was such a prestigious distinction that she had never imagined she would one day receive it.

“I truly feel honored and proud,” she said.

Passion began at age of six

Tuong's journey in aerobic gymnastics began when she was just six years old.

“When I started first grade, I followed my older sister to an aerobic gymnastics class at a center,” she recounted.

“At that time, I simply thought it was fun because I could make friends with many children outside my elementary school.”

In second grade, she entered a city-level aerobic gymnastics competition and won a gold medal in the five-person group event.

That achievement sparked her growing passion for the sport.

“From then on, I started to love aerobic gymnastics as I found it really interesting,” she said.

For Tuong, perseverance and consistent training have been the most important factors behind her success.

Since entering sixth grade, she has maintained a demanding training schedule of four hours a day, from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.

Her school schedule is equally busy.

From Monday to Friday, she attends regular classes at Minh Duc Middle School from 7:00 am to 4:00 pm.

After returning home, she has just enough time to eat a quick meal before heading to training.

After going home, she finishes washing up, and it is nearly 10:00 pm before she can sit down to study and complete her academic assignments.

Her training hours increase even further in preparation for major international competitions.

To prepare for the Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships in the Philippines, for example, she trained continuously from 7:00 am to noon, took a lunch break until 3:00 pm, and then resumed training until 7:00 pm.

The intensive preparation took place during the summer holiday, meaning she did not have to worry about keeping up with schoolwork.

Overcoming pressure on international stage

Among her most memorable experiences abroad was competing at the Suzuki World Cup 2026 in Tokyo.

The Vietnamese team had only two days to familiarize themselves with the competition floor.

The weather was also quite cold, and Tuong had not yet adjusted to the conditions.

Adding to the challenge, she was the first Vietnamese athlete to compete.

“I was extremely nervous and felt a lot of pressure, especially when I saw that the other competitors had already performed very well,” she recalled.

However, she reminded herself to give her best.

“For the honor of our national flag, I knew I couldn't back down,” she said.

Looking ahead, she hopes to continue performing well in her academic subjects at school while pursuing greater achievements in elite aerobic gymnastics competitions.

A dedicated student both in class and in sport

Despite her intensive training schedule, Tuong has maintained an impressive academic record.

Tran Minh Thanh, vice-principal of Minh Duc Middle School, described her as a hardworking and diligent student with remarkable determination and resilience.

“Although her aerobic gymnastics training schedule is extremely demanding, Tuong always makes every effort to complete all the assignments given by her teachers,” he shared.

“At the end of sixth grade, she earned the school's excellent student title.”

Beyond her achievements in academics and sport, she is also well-liked by teachers and classmates for her cheerful and friendly personality.