{"id":140436,"date":"2025-11-18T02:05:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-18T02:05:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/140436\/"},"modified":"2025-11-18T02:05:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-18T02:05:14","slug":"one-leg-unbreakable-will-vietnamese-bodybuilder-redefines-strength","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/140436\/","title":{"rendered":"One leg, unbreakable will: Vietnamese bodybuilder redefines strength"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n \"One
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\n From a young man weighed down by insecurity after losing a leg, Nguyen Hoang Long, 28, rediscovers joy when he begins bodybuilding. Photo: Quynh Quynh \/ Tuoi Tre
\n \n <\/p>\n


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His solid physique and competition achievements have become a source of inspiration for many who face adversity yet refuse to bow to fate.<\/p>\n

Early in the morning on Phan Van Hon Street in Ba Diem Commune, 28-year-old Nguyen Hoang Long braces himself on a pull-up bar.<\/p>\n

Among the line of muscular gym-goers, he is instantly recognizable, not for a lack of strength but for the slim prosthetic leg that contrasts with his powerful upper body.<\/p>\n

His day begins at 5:00 am with a simple routine: boiling eggs and sweet potatoes to bring to the gym. <\/p>\n

He has maintained this habit for years to ensure enough calories for intense training.<\/p>\n

After warming up, he moves through cardio, core, and chest workouts before tackling the most challenging part: leg exercises. <\/p>\n

Because his prosthetic cannot handle heavy pressure, Long removes it and trains on one leg.<\/p>\n

Over time, he has adapted to lifting nearly 100 kilograms using only his right leg. <\/p>\n

For most people, such weights are grueling, while Long must put in twice the effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve fallen so many times that I got used to it,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy real leg is strong enough to carry a hundred kilograms. If I wore the prosthetic while lifting like that, it would break immediately.”<\/p>\n

Long admitted he barely remembers what life felt like before losing his leg.<\/p>\n

Unexpected accident<\/p>\n

In 2017, he was shocked after he woke up in a hospital with one leg in the wake of a workplace accident, he recalled.<\/p>\n

He tried to stay strong, but the daily inconveniences and the sympathetic looks from co-workers reminded him constantly that life had changed.<\/p>\n

\u201cI returned to work just two weeks after my stitches were removed,” he recounted.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt home, I tried to manage everything myself. One time I hopped out to hang laundry, slipped in the yard, and just lay there crying. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d never felt such helplessness.”<\/p>\n

For two years, he lived in self-doubt and guilt, feeling like a burden to his family.<\/p>\n

Rebuilding through discipline<\/p>\n

It was not until 2019 that he rediscovered a spark of joy. <\/p>\n

Starting with basic workouts at home to lose weight, he began searching for methods that suited his body and soon found himself drawn to the idea of joining a gym.<\/p>\n

Yet he hesitated. Passing by a gym in then-Cu Chi District day after day, he lingered outside but never dared to walk in.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to try, but I was afraid they wouldn\u2019t accept someone like me,\u201d he shared.<\/p>\n

Noticing the young man who kept returning without entering, the gym\u2019s owner approached him. <\/p>\n

After hearing his story, she offered him a free membership. <\/p>\n

From that moment on, Long and his metal leg became fixtures in the gym.<\/p>\n

However, training was far from easy. <\/p>\n

Missing a leg meant he had to reinvent many exercises, adjusting techniques and testing what worked. <\/p>\n

Certain moves like deadlifts requiring full-body stability were simply impossible.<\/p>\n

Physical limitations had gotten him down several times, but whenever he felt like giving up, he remembered the darkest moments after his accident. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy starting line is behind everyone else\u2019s, so I have to be more disciplined,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

He has to complete many of his exercises balancing on a single leg. Photo: Quynh Quynh \/ Tuoi Tre<\/p>\n

Finding purpose through bodybuilding<\/p>\n

Stepping inside the gym became a turning point that transformed him. <\/p>\n

From a young man weighed down by insecurity, he grew into someone with purpose and determination.<\/p>\n

His workouts increased in intensity over time. <\/p>\n

The doubtful looks from others eventually shifted into admiration as his physique sharpened and his confidence grew.<\/p>\n

Encouraged by friends and trainers, he decided to compete. <\/p>\n

He chose a physique category that emphasizes aesthetics and balance rather than raw muscle mass, meaning the loss of one leg was not a disadvantage.<\/p>\n

Flipping through photos and videos, he recounted the two-year journey that led him to becoming the 2024 Titan of Muscles Champion.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was nervous, of course. But once I stood on stage with the others and heard my loved ones cheering, I felt confident,” he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen they announced I had won, it was overwhelming \u2013 I\u2019d really done it.”<\/p>\n

Even when surrounded by athletes with more conventional physiques, Long stepped forward proudly, smiling brightly throughout each pose.<\/p>\n

He insisted his motivation was never fame or awards. <\/p>\n

\u201cI just wanted to challenge myself. I\u2019d been stuck in a comfort zone for too long.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"One<\/p>\n

For him, competing in bodybuilding is not about fame but about challenging himself and spreading positive energy. Photo: Quynh Quynh \/ Tuoi Tre<\/p>\n

A beacon of strength<\/p>\n

Tran Thi Linh, owner of the gym where Long trains, still remembers their first meeting vividly.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was impressed right away,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cDespite everything he went through, he was so optimistic. He trains seriously and cares about everyone around him.”<\/p>\n

Moved by his dedication, she encouraged him to compete in 2023. <\/p>\n

With unwavering support from the gym community, Long turned determination into achievement. <\/p>\n

To those who witnessed his journey, his victory came as no surprise \u2013 it was simply a well-earned reward for relentless effort.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" From a young man weighed down by insecurity after losing a…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":140437,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[7120,565,134,56419,5158,111,139,69,2317],"class_list":{"0":"post-140436","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-fitness","8":"tag-bodybuilder","9":"tag-fitness","10":"tag-health","11":"tag-ho-chi-minh-city","12":"tag-man","13":"tag-new-zealand","14":"tag-newzealand","15":"tag-nz","16":"tag-vietnam"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140436","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=140436"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/140436\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/140437"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=140436"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=140436"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=140436"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}