Disabled athlete Nguyen Van Bich: The journey of willpower reaching out to the world

In the sweltering afternoon heat at Dong Nai Stadium, the sight of a 57-year-old man tirelessly pushing his wheelchair lap after lap around the track earned the deep admiration of many. That man is athlete Nguyen Van Bich, a resident of Hung Thinh commune, Dong Nai province, who has been dedicated to para-sports for over two decades.

From being paralyzed in both legs, he rose to become a source of pride for Dong Nai sports, contributing to the province’s success with numerous prestigious medals at various national competitions.

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich is the pride of Dong Nai sports. Photo: Huy Anh

A passion sparked during student years

Nguyen Van Bich’s journey into sports began during his student years. He recalled that in his free time back then, he would join friends in groups for people with disabilities, trying out various disciplines such as badminton, table tennis, basketball, and swimming, until he discovered his true passion: wheelchair racing.

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich (far left) competes in the wheelchair event at a national championship of sports for people with disabilities. Photo: Contributed by the unit

“I tried all kinds of sports, but when I got into wheelchair racing, it just felt right, and I’ve stuck with it ever since,” Nguyen Van Bich shared.

To pursue that passion, Bich had to go through many hardships. When he first started training, he had no equipment and had to borrow a friend’s wheelchair to practice, then saved up for a long time before being able to buy one of his own. The training process was also full of challenges, as for people with disabilities, every move requires much more effort than for others.

Nguyen Van Bich opened a coffee shop right at home to earn extra income for his family. Photo: Huy Anh

His most unforgettable memory was his first competition in Hue city. He recalled: “I was scheduled to board the train at 6 p.m., but by 5 p.m., I was still running a high fever, nearly 40 degrees. I called my coach, and he told me to consider my health. He said if I felt I could push through, then go, since the ticket was already bought.

The whole journey to Hue, I lay on the train, completely drained of energy. But somehow, the moment I entered the track, I suddenly felt strong. I raced smoothly and ended up winning three bronze medals. That was my first time competing in wheelchair racing, and it was also the moment that gave me the belief that this was truly the right sport for me.”

“Sweet fruits” from extraordinary willpower

In 2004, Nguyen Van Bich officially joined the Dong Nai provincial team for athletes with disabilities, marking the start of his professional career in wheelchair racing. For over 20 years, he has built an impressive medal record, consistently contributing to the overall success of Dong Nai’s para-athletics team. In nearly every domestic competition he entered, he brought home a medal, at minimum, a bronze.

Nguyen Van Bich with his collection of medals, cups, and achievement certificates gained throughout more than 20 years. Photo: Huy Anh

In recent years, Bich has consistently won at least one gold medal for Dong Nai disabled sports at national tournaments and festivals.

On September 13, athlete Nguyen Van Bich and teammate Ly Duc Quyen won a silver medal in the men’s BC4 doubles event at the 2025 National Championship for swimming, chess, boccia, archery, and judo for people with disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the 6th National Sports Festival for People with Disabilities in 2018, Bich won 1 gold medal in the 400m and 1 silver medal in the 100m men’s wheelchair event, T53/54 category. He continued to leave a mark with a gold medal in the 400m and a silver in the 800m at the 2019 National Championship of athletics and swimming for people with disabilities. Alongside athletics, he also won 1 individual bronze and 1 team gold medal (with Ly Duc Quyen) in the BC4 boccia event in his first participation with teammates.

Dong Nai athlete Nguyen Van Bich (blue shirt) excellently won the gold medal in the men’s 800m wheelchair T54 category at the 2020 National Championship of athletics and swimming for people with disabilities. Photo: Contributed by the unit

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich won the gold medal in the BC4 boccia event in 2020. Photo: Contributed by the unit

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich on the track at the 2022 National Championship of athletics and swimming for people with disabilities. Photo: Contributed by the unit

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich won 1 gold medal and 2 silver medals in the wheelchair events at the 2023 National Championship of sports for people with disabilities. Photo: Contributed by the unit

In 2020, Bich successfully defended his 400m gold medal and added a bronze in the 100m men’s wheelchair event at the 2020 National Para Athletics and Swimming Championships. In addition, he also won 1 individual gold and 1 team silver in boccia.

In 2022 and 2023, he continued to leave a mark by consecutively winning gold medals in the 800m and 2 silvers in the 200m and 400m men’s wheelchair T54 category. At the same time, he also won a team gold and an individual silver in boccia.

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich competing in boccia at the 2023 National Championship of badminton, table tennis, weightlifting, and boccia for people with disabilities held in Dong Nai. Photo: Huy Anh

Most recently, in 2024, athlete Nguyen Van Bich claimed gold in the 800m and silver in the 200m men’s wheelchair T54 category at the National Championship for athletics, archery, judo for the visually impaired, and boccia for athletes with disabilities. More recently, at the National Paralympic Sports Championship 2025, Bich and teammate Ly Duc Quyen won the silver medal in the men’s BC4 boccia doubles event.

Dong Nai athlete Nguyen Van Bich excellently won the gold medal in the men’s 800m wheelchair T54 category at the National Championship of sports for people with disabilities. Photo: Contributed by the unit

The achievements of athlete Nguyen Van Bich have not only earned him personal accolades but also served as a source of encouragement for the disability community across the country. His image, strong and resilient on the track, has inspired many, helping people with disabilities believe that determination can transcend physical limitations.

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich (Dong Nai, blue shirt, second from right) received the silver medal in the men’s BC4 doubles event. Photo: Contributed by the unit

Coach Nguyen Ngoc Quang, who has accompanied him since 2009, shared: “Honestly, when I first took charge of the Dong Nai athletics team for people with disabilities, I was very impressed with Bich. Although he lives far away and commuting is tough, he has never skipped a single training session. For a wheelchair athlete, hard training is mandatory, and Bich has proven that with extraordinary willpower. He is strict with himself, always following the training program, and that discipline has created a highly accomplished athlete for Dong Nai disabled sports.”

Behind the spotlight is a modest life. In the past, Nguyen Van Bich made a living doing various jobs. After the pandemic, as work opportunities declined, he and his family opened a small coffee shop in their home to ensure a more stable income. In that house, he remains the backbone of the family, his wife, two children, and his 93-year-old mother.

"Pressure is always there. But I believe that as long as I stay healthy and live frugally, life will be alright," Bich said. What keeps him grounded and gives him peace of mind to pursue his passion is the support of his family: "Sports help me avoid minor illnesses. Seeing that, my wife and children encourage me even more. As long as I take good care of my family, I can train with peace of mind."

Achievements of athlete Nguyen Van Bich in recent years

2020: gold medal 400m, bronze medal 100m wheelchair

2021: (not held)

2022: gold medal 800m, silver medal 200m, 400m wheelchair

2023: gold medal 800m, silver medal 200m, 400m wheelchair

2024: gold medal 800m, silver medal 200m wheelchair

Reaching the “international dream” after more than 2 decades

After more than two decades on the track of para sports, 57-year-old athlete Nguyen Van Bich has finally been justly rewarded with the opportunity to compete on the international stage for the first time.

57-year-old Dong Nai athlete Nguyen Van Bich diligently trains at Dong Nai stadium to maintain endurance, aiming at future goals. Photo: Minh Hanh

Recently, the Vietnam Paralympic Committee sent a document to the Dong Nai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism announcing the nomination of Nguyen Van Bich, an athlete of the Dong Nai disabled team, to participate in the International Wheelchair Marathon taking place from November 13 to 16, 2025, in Oita, Japan, one of the most prestigious tournaments in the world.

Each time he trains at Dong Nai stadium, Nguyen Van Bich has to ride his wheelchair on a motorbike from Hung Thinh commune. Photo: Minh Hanh

This occasion is the first time in his career that Nguyen Van Bich has the opportunity to compete on the international stage. For him, it is more than just a race, as it is the realization of a dream after more than 20 years on the track.

According to the plan for the International Wheelchair Marathon, Bich will compete in the wheelchair half-marathon (21.5 km). This event will be a major challenge, as he has never raced such a long distance in any domestic competition. The longest event he has participated in, and where he won a silver medal, was the 5,000m wheelchair race at the 2013 National Championship for athletes with disabilities. In recent years, he has only competed in short-distance events at national tournaments, including the 100m, 200m, 400m, and 800m.

In addition to training at Dong Nai stadium, Nguyen Van Bich still diligently practices on roads near his home to maintain fitness. Photo: Huy Anh

However, in preparing for his first international competition, Bich has not encountered major obstacles, as he has previously trained to maintain his endurance with two laps of approximately 20km near his home, though these sessions were not timed. To adapt to the upcoming race, he must change his training regimen to include faster, continuous runs of more than 20km.

The biggest challenge now for athlete Nguyen Van Bich is that, along with training for his first international tournament, he also has to complete the training program from his coach to achieve the best results at the National Paralympic Sports Championship 2025, taking place from October 21 to 28 in Lam Dong province.

Athlete Nguyen Van Bich with his “warhorse”. Photo: Huy Anh

Nguyen Van Bich shared: “When I heard I had been selected to compete in the International Wheelchair Marathon in Japan, I felt both excited and anxious. Excited because the dream had finally come true, but anxious because I had never raced such a long distance. Still, I told myself: if given the opportunity, I have to give it everything I’ve got.”

More than 20 years ago, Nguyen Van Bich "ran" with sheer willpower to rise above his fate. And today, he continues to run, not just for himself, but to inspire thousands of others with disabilities. For Bich, the journey to Japan is not simply a competition, but the fulfillment of a dream more than two decades in the making. It is a rare opportunity to stand on the track alongside international para-athletes and to prove that determination and aspiration can help people overcome all limits.

By Huy Anh, Minh Hanh, Thuy Tien – Translated by Minh Hanh, Minho