One leg, unbreakable will: Vietnamese bodybuilder redefines strength

His solid physique and competition achievements have become a source of inspiration for many who face adversity yet refuse to bow to fate.

Early in the morning on Phan Van Hon Street in Ba Diem Commune, 28-year-old Nguyen Hoang Long braces himself on a pull-up bar.

Among the line of muscular gym-goers, he is instantly recognizable, not for a lack of strength but for the slim prosthetic leg that contrasts with his powerful upper body.

His day begins at 5:00 am with a simple routine: boiling eggs and sweet potatoes to bring to the gym.

He has maintained this habit for years to ensure enough calories for intense training.

After warming up, he moves through cardio, core, and chest workouts before tackling the most challenging part: leg exercises.

Because his prosthetic cannot handle heavy pressure, Long removes it and trains on one leg.

Over time, he has adapted to lifting nearly 100 kilograms using only his right leg.

For most people, such weights are grueling, while Long must put in twice the effort.

“I’ve fallen so many times that I got used to it,” he shared.

“My real leg is strong enough to carry a hundred kilograms. If I wore the prosthetic while lifting like that, it would break immediately."

Long admitted he barely remembers what life felt like before losing his leg.

Unexpected accident

In 2017, he was shocked after he woke up in a hospital with one leg in the wake of a workplace accident, he recalled.

He tried to stay strong, but the daily inconveniences and the sympathetic looks from co-workers reminded him constantly that life had changed.

“I returned to work just two weeks after my stitches were removed," he recounted.

“At home, I tried to manage everything myself. One time I hopped out to hang laundry, slipped in the yard, and just lay there crying.

“I’d never felt such helplessness."

For two years, he lived in self-doubt and guilt, feeling like a burden to his family.

Rebuilding through discipline

It was not until 2019 that he rediscovered a spark of joy.

Starting with basic workouts at home to lose weight, he began searching for methods that suited his body and soon found himself drawn to the idea of joining a gym.

Yet he hesitated. Passing by a gym in then-Cu Chi District day after day, he lingered outside but never dared to walk in.

“I wanted to try, but I was afraid they wouldn’t accept someone like me,” he shared.

Noticing the young man who kept returning without entering, the gym’s owner approached him.

After hearing his story, she offered him a free membership.

From that moment on, Long and his metal leg became fixtures in the gym.

However, training was far from easy.

Missing a leg meant he had to reinvent many exercises, adjusting techniques and testing what worked.

Certain moves like deadlifts requiring full-body stability were simply impossible.

Physical limitations had gotten him down several times, but whenever he felt like giving up, he remembered the darkest moments after his accident.

“My starting line is behind everyone else’s, so I have to be more disciplined,” he said.

Finding purpose through bodybuilding

Stepping inside the gym became a turning point that transformed him.

From a young man weighed down by insecurity, he grew into someone with purpose and determination.

His workouts increased in intensity over time.

The doubtful looks from others eventually shifted into admiration as his physique sharpened and his confidence grew.

Encouraged by friends and trainers, he decided to compete.

He chose a physique category that emphasizes aesthetics and balance rather than raw muscle mass, meaning the loss of one leg was not a disadvantage.

Flipping through photos and videos, he recounted the two-year journey that led him to becoming the 2024 Titan of Muscles Champion.

“I was nervous, of course. But once I stood on stage with the others and heard my loved ones cheering, I felt confident," he said.

“When they announced I had won, it was overwhelming – I’d really done it."

Even when surrounded by athletes with more conventional physiques, Long stepped forward proudly, smiling brightly throughout each pose.

He insisted his motivation was never fame or awards.

“I just wanted to challenge myself. I’d been stuck in a comfort zone for too long.”

A beacon of strength

Tran Thi Linh, owner of the gym where Long trains, still remembers their first meeting vividly.

“I was impressed right away,” she said.

“Despite everything he went through, he was so optimistic. He trains seriously and cares about everyone around him."

Moved by his dedication, she encouraged him to compete in 2023.

With unwavering support from the gym community, Long turned determination into achievement.

To those who witnessed his journey, his victory came as no surprise – it was simply a well-earned reward for relentless effort.