Việt Nam’s young hope Nguyễn Huy Hoàng finally won a gold medal on the sixth day of 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games on Friday in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Young talent Hoàng (left) and his trainer Hoàng Quốc Huy after the victory in Argentina.

Hoàng won the men’s 800m freestyle final with a time of 7:50.20.

This year’s games do not include Hoàng’s favoured event, the 1,500m freestyle, in which he won silver at ASIAD 2018. He also won bronze in the 800m race at the same event.

The 18-year-old from central Quảng Bình Province beat out seven strong opponents from Japan, Italy, Hungary, France, New Zealand and Spain.

Japan’s Keisuke Yoshida held the lead in lane one after 300 metres, followed by Akos Kalmar of Hungary. Hoàng was in third position.

Over the remaining 500 metres, Hoàng managed to adjust his breathing and gradually overtake his rivals.

Yoshida finished second with a time of 7:53.85. Marco Detullio from Italy was in third at 7:55.81.

This is Hoàng’s best result by far. It breaks the 7:54.32 time he posted at ASIAD and his own national record of 7:58.07.

He expressed his gratitude to the training board of the Cần Thơ National Sports Training Centre and his trainer Hoàng Quốc Huy.

“I had no time off after ASIAD,” said Hoàng. “It is great to see my training paying off, bringing glory to my home country.” — VNS