Quang Thuan: Anh Vien's younger brother nearly broke the SEA Games record, makes shocking statement about his sister.

Nguyen Quang Thuan, the younger brother of swimmer Anh Vien, recently made a big splash at the 33rd SEA Games by breaking the Games record in the 400m individual medley and winning the gold medal. Following this impressive achievement, Quang Thuan also made a statement about his sister, affirming his own standing.

Nguyen Quang Thuan, a young man born in 2006 from Can Tho, is not only a rising swimming talent in Vietnamese sports, but also carries a significant "nickname," sometimes even an invisible pressure: the younger brother of the legendary swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien. Born into a family with a sister who is a legend with 25 SEA Games gold medals, Quang Thuan's journey is one of relentless effort to establish his own name, escape the shadow of that great swimmer, and reach his own heights.

From humble beginnings by the river to following in the footsteps of her talented older sister.

Nguyen Quang Thuan grew up in a family with a long tradition of connection to the waterways in Can Tho. This is also where his famous older sister, Nguyen Thi Anh Vien, began her illustrious career. Anh Vien's early success motivated and paved the way for Quang Thuan to pursue a professional swimming career. However, being the younger brother of a legend also means that every step Thuan takes is under close scrutiny and comparison from the public and experts.

Quang Thuan began swimming training at a young age, receiving thorough and specialized training at the National Sports Training Center, where he developed an iron will and impeccable technique. Under the guidance of seasoned coaches, along with the valuable experience and advice from his older sister, Quang Thuan gradually revealed outstanding qualities, especially in individual medley and long-distance freestyle events, demonstrating versatility and endurance similar to his sister Anh Vien.

Quang Thuấn's career wasn't a bed of roses from the start. He had to go through youth tournaments and national championships to gain experience. Ánh Viên was his companion, his role model, and even his strict supervisor during his training sessions, ensuring Thuấn always maintained the highest level of focus and discipline.

The journey to conquer the SEA Games and the first gold medal is full of meaning.

The SEA Games arena has always been the most important milestone in evaluating the talent of a young Southeast Asian athlete. For Nguyen Quang Thuan, it has been a journey of perseverance. The 31st SEA Games (2021, held in 2022) and the 32nd SEA Games (2023) were his first two participations. Although he had impressive performances, especially winning silver and bronze medals, the individual gold medal remained his ultimate goal.

At the 33rd SEA Games, Nguyen Quang Thuan delivered an explosive performance, marking the biggest turning point in his career. The men's 400m individual medley was where he made history. This event demands comprehensive technical, physical, and tactical skills, requiring the athlete to swim butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle in sequence.

He touched the pool wall first with a time of 4 minutes 19 seconds 98, officially breaking his own SEA Games record – surpassing the previous one by 1 second. In fact, Quang Thuan's time of 4 minutes 19 seconds 98 in tonight's final (December 12th) almost broke the SEA Games record. This was a spectacular moment in the swimming arena, marking a major step forward for the swimmer born in 2006. It is especially significant as this is Quang Thuan's first SEA Games gold medal in his career, successfully changing the color of his medal.

Facing the pressure of the "big ball" and making a humble, determined statement.

Pressure is inevitable when Quang Thuan is the younger brother of "Little Mermaid" Anh Vien. Nguyen Thi Anh Vien has set a "gold standard" at the SEA Games and international competitions. Every time Quang Thuan competes, the constant question from the public and media is: "Will he achieve the same success as his sister?"

After completing his competition and winning his first gold medal, Nguyen Quang Thuan gave a heartfelt speech that touched the emotions of fans and clarified his own perspective on this comparison. When asked about the comparison with his older sister, Thuan shared: "After participating in 3 SEA Games, this is my first gold medal. And with the titles and fame that my older sister has achieved here, I feel like I'm nothing compared to what my older sister has accomplished. So I don't feel much pressure."

This statement not only demonstrates the admirable humility of a young athlete, but also reveals a mature mindset: Thuan doesn't deny the shadow of his older sister, but he also doesn't let it weigh him down. Acknowledging that he's "nothing yet" compared to the legendary Anh Vien is his way of freeing himself from the pressure to "surpass" her immediately, allowing him to focus on improving his own performance step by step.

This statement also shows Thuan's absolute respect for what Anh Vien has contributed. He accepts the fact that the road to reaching Anh Vien's level is still very long, and he is willing to patiently take it one step at a time. This is a positive mindset, helping the young swimmer maintain composure, avoid excessive expectations, and focus on pure sporting goals.

Future vision: More than just "Anh Vien's younger brother"

The SEA Games 400m individual medley gold medal marked a turning point, helping Nguyen Quang Thuan escape the shadow of his older sister Anh Vien and affirm his position as a top swimmer. With great potential, the next goal of this young athlete born in 2006 is to conquer the ASIAD and the Olympics, continue to break national records, and reach world-class levels.

Quang Thuấn wins gold medal at SEA Games 33, reveals secret motivational call from Ánh Viên. Thanh Yên09:38:06 13/12/2025Swimmer Nguyen Quang Thuan shone brightly at the 33rd SEA Games, brilliantly winning his first gold medal in the men's 400m individual medley, bringing great pride and motivation to Vietnamese sports.