Vietnam at the Olympics
Vietnam first competed at the Olympic Games in 1952. In 1952 they competed as the State of Vietnam. After the Partition of Vietnam in 1954 into North (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam), only South Vietnam competed from 1956 to 1972. After the reunification of Vietnam in 1975 at the end of the Vietnam War, they have competed under the title Socialist Republic of Vietnam from 1980 onwards. There was no Vietnamese team of any sort in 1976 and 1984.
The first medal of Vietnam was won by Trần Hiếu Ngân who won the silver medal in the women’s 57 kg category in taekwondo at the 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games.
In the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympic Games, Lady Luck smiled on Vietnam as its shooter Hoàng Xuân Vinh hit the gold medal in men's 10 m air pistol event. Vinh was not done yet as he nailed the silver medal in the men’s 50m pistol event to help Vietnam hike its medal output to two, the most for the nation at the Olympic Games.
The only other sport that produced medal for Vietnam at the Games is weightlifting. The nation is slowly becoming a sporting power in South East Asia and Asia as a whole.Trivia
- The first medal won by Vietnam since it began competing in the Olympic Games in 1952 was a silver medal by Hieu Ngan Tran in taekwondo (women 49-57kg category).
- Hoàng Xuân Vinh won Vietnam's first-ever Olympic gold medal by winning the men's 10m air pistol in Rio 2016
Related Pages
- See also South Vietnam at the Olympics.
- List of all countries that have participated at the Olympic Games.
- About sport in Vietnam
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Upcoming Events