Van Trang – Mother of Four Wins Y Ty 42km: “I Run With My Legs, Not With the Gossip of Others”

Some sporting moments need no grandstand to move the heart. Van Trang’s moment came on the final slopes of the Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race, when she no longer had the strength to run but was still clear-headed enough not to stop. The woman born in 2026, mother of four and known by the nickname Jang Doll, had just finished the 42km course as the fastest female runner and second overall – behind only one male runner.

The mist-covered trail, with more than 1,300m of cumulative elevation, is not a place for improvisation. On Lao Than peak, 2,860m above sea level, thin air forced every stride to be measured. Van Trang finished in 4 hours 26 minutes, a result that challenges stereotypes about the endurance of mothers. For her, that time came from years of early mornings, gym sessions, swimming, auxiliary exercises and disciplined training – not from a pair of race-day shoes.

“There were slopes that nearly drained my energy. I just focused on the next section, kept my breathing steady, managed my strength and refueled at the right time. I kept telling myself: stay calm, as long as I still have strength, I still have a chance,” she told reporters after crossing the line.

But Van Trang’s story did not end with the result. When photos of her in tight sportswear appeared in running groups, part of the online crowd ignored her achievement and focused on her chest with disrespectful comments, even mocking her as “carrying two grapefruits while running.”

Van Trang responded directly. “Let anyone try carrying two grapefruits for 42km or 55km of mountain trails,” she said. “I run with my legs, not with my appearance. Stress is my vitamin C. What matters is that I finished and I am healthy. Judge all you want – I run with my legs, not with the gossip of others.”

Her answer reflects a long-running tension in women’s sport: physical scrutiny is often placed beside professional merit. “Women in sport deserve to be seen first for their effort and results,” she said. “Physical appearance is personal. Achievement comes from years of training. When people see a woman on the course, I want them to see someone pushing her own limits.”

She also refused to change her outfit to avoid stares. “Sportswear must be comfortable and safe,” she said. “If I change myself to avoid judgment, I will always live under other people’s eyes. Running teaches me that conditions are not always perfect. Life is the same. Praise makes me happy, criticism helps me reflect, and unkind words I learn to ignore.”

Women in sport should be seen through effort and achievement, not through body shape. Van Trang embodies that message. At 35, after four pregnancies, she is planning to race 70km at VMM and 100km at the end of the year. “Let results speak,” she said. “I don’t need to become the version others want to see. I only need to become a better version of myself every day.”

That is the real victory at Y Ty. No grandstand was full, but the trail, the time and the quiet courage of one mother will echo far beyond the mountain.