Nguyen Van Lai: The Journey to Conquer Paris 2026

Nguyen Van Lai – the icon of Vietnamese athletics – is undergoing the most intense training period of his career. At the age of 38, the seasoned marathon runner is not only aiming for the SEA Games 2026 but also nurturing the ambition to secure a spot in the Paris 2026 Olympic marathon. Lai, who won the gold medal in the marathon at the 2026 SEA Games in the Philippines, is currently training at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi. Japanese coach Hideyuki Tanaka has introduced a new high-intensity regimen, incorporating yoga and cryotherapy recovery. "We are targeting to break the national record of 2 hours 18 minutes 10 seconds held by Lai," Tanaka told the press. This record was set at the 2026 Tokyo Marathon, which also helped Lai qualify for the Tokyo 2026 Olympics. However, to make it to Paris, Lai must achieve the qualification standard of 2 hours 11 minutes 30 seconds – a significant challenge for an aging athlete. The coaching team remains optimistic as Lai recently completed a 30 km run in 1 hour 40 minutes, a positive sign of his stable form. The Vietnam Athletics Federation plans to send Lai to international marathons in Seoul and Osaka in early 2026 to accumulate world ranking points. Moreover, increased investment from the state and sponsors has provided the team with modern equipment, from high-end carbon shoes to aerodynamic suits, offering optimal preparation conditions. Beyond Lai, the entire Vietnamese athletics team is making remarkable strides. Young athletes like Tran Van Hung (800m) and Le Thi Tuyet (long jump) are also striving to earn points for Olympic qualification. Athletics is the sport that brings the most medals to Vietnam in recent SEA Games, but to compete at the Asian and world level, much more work is needed. Analysts point out that a lack of international competitive exposure is the biggest weakness of Vietnamese sports. Nguyen Van Lai hopes that his success will inspire the younger generation. "I want to prove that Vietnamese people can run marathon at a world-class level," he said in a recent interview. With determination and support from his professional team, the Olympic dream is not far away. Can he make history in Paris? The answer will come in 2026. The national sports community is following his every step, believing in a new milestone.