Ha Gia Bao – Potential “professional swimmer” of Lang Son

At the National Amateur Swimming Clubs Tournament organized by the Vietnam Water Sports Association last July 2023, Lang Son has a young athlete who was assessed by the tournament Organizing Committee as having the potential to become a professional athlete in the future. That is Ha Gia Bao, 8 years old (Hoang Van Thu ward, Lang Son city) with 6 medals (2 gold medals, 2 silver medals, 2 bronze medals).

Ha Gia Bao and his “collection” of medals through swimming tournaments

The reason the Organizing Committee highly appreciated Ha Gia Bao is because the average achievement in the 50m freestyle swimming event among professional swimmers of this age is about 40 seconds, while Bao’s achievement is 36.4 seconds. Talking with Mr. Hoang Quoc Huy, Chairman of Lang Son Shark Swimming Club, who is also Bao’s coach, he said: Bao’s achievements progressed so quickly that I was truly surprised. Previously, in May 2023, Bao had just participated in the 50m freestyle swimming event at the National High School Sports Tournament with a record of 38.3 seconds. After only 2 months, this achievement of his reached 36 .4 seconds (2 seconds faster). Among the students I coach, Bao clearly shows his special qualities in swimming.

This result comes from the care and encouragement of his family as well as Bao’s own qualities and efforts under the guidance of the coach during the past time. Mr. Ha Viet Loi (Bao’s father) shared: In the summer of 2022, when Bao just turned 7 years old, I took him to swimming lessons with the hope that he would soon be equipped with swimming skills and drowning prevention. After a short time, my child learned to swim and showed his passion for this sport. I strongly support and create the best conditions for my children to have the opportunity to develop their abilities.

It is known that after only learning to swim for about a month, Bao participated in the first competition, the 2022 Summer Green Race swimming tournament organized by the Lang Son Children’s Cultural Center and the Provincial Union of Public Employees in July 2022. At the tournament, Bao won the first gold medal. This is the motivation that makes Bao love swimming even more. Seeing that his son was passionate and had outstanding achievements in swimming, Mr. Loi researched and took him to the Lang Son Shark Swimming Club so he could have the opportunity to learn advanced swimming skills.

Since summer 2022 until now, every day, Bao has spent 1 – 1.5 hours/day swimming. Besides swimming as a health-enhancing sport, with the guidance of a coach every day, Bao quickly absorbs and practices newly learned swimming skills. Thanks to that, Bao’s swimming performance has increasingly improved and remained stable.

Along with practicing hard at home, in addition to spending time studying, Bao enthusiastically follows domestic and international swimming tournaments. Ha Gia Bao shares: I really admire former swimmer Michael Phelps (the world’s swimming star), so I always find and watch his competitions at swimming tournaments many times to observe his technique, then after that, I asked the teacher to guide me in practicing. Every time I compete, I visualize the image of Michael Phelps to have more motivation to complete my competition. My dream is to become a professional swimmer and compete in international swimming tournaments.

From his child’s passion, his family created conditions for Bao to compete in many swimming tournaments inside and outside the province. Over the past year, Bao has participated in 8 swimming tournaments from ward to national level and won 22 medals of all kinds (including 9 gold medals). Bao is also the athlete who brought home the first gold medal in swimming for Lang Son province at the 2023 National High School Sports Tournament (May 2023).

In addition to achievements in sports activities, at Hoang Van Thu Primary School, Lang Son city, Ha Gia Bao always achieves excellent student results. Entering the new school year in class 3A5, along with studying, Ha Gia Bao has continued to make efforts every day to reach his dream. Wishing the young “swimmer” will increasingly develop his swimming qualities and bring many high achievements to his province.