Lan makes history as first Vietnamese runner to qualify for athletics semis at Olympics

Runner Quach Thi Lan has become the first Vietnamese runner to have qualified for athletics semis at the Olympics after finishing the women’s 400m hurdles heat at the ongoing 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games with her personal best of 55.71 on July 31.

Runner Quach Thi Lan (middle) in action during the women’s 400m hurdles heat at Tokyo 2020 on July 31, 2021. (Photo: Reuters)
Runner Quach Thi Lan (middle) in action during the women’s 400m hurdles heat at Tokyo 2020 on July 31, 2021. (Photo: Reuters)

Lan, the last Vietnamese athlete competing in Tokyo, finished fifth in her heat this morning, but was promoted to 4th place as Jamaica’s Leah Nugent, who won 6th place in Rio 2016, was disqualified for infringement, thus giving up the ticket for Monday's semi-finals to the Vietnamese runner.

Lan, ASIAD 2018 champion, participated in the Olympics with a special invitation. The Thanh Hoa-born runner had a PB of 55.30 at the 2019 Asian Championships but only ranked 7th out of eight runners participating in the 3rd heat this morning.

The Vietnamese athlete started quite well, constantly on the heels of Sara Slott, Gianna Woodruff and world record holder Sydney McLaughlin of the US.

When Lan crossed the last hurdle she was in 4th place, but Leah jumped up in the 40m sprint.

Lan finished 5th in 55.71 behind Leah, however, the Jamaican's result was not recognised for infringement. Lan was promoted to 4th place and won tickets to the semi-finals.

World record holder McLaughlin opened a big gap with her fellow competitors in the final stretch and finished with a time of 54.65.

Quach Thi Lan finishes fourth in Heat 3 of the category’s Round 1 on the second day of athletics at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 31, 2021. (Screenshot capture)

Lan made history when she became the first Vietnamese athlete to reach the semi-finals of an Olympic athletics event. In the past, Vu Thi Huong passed the 2008 Beijing Olympic qualifying round but was out in the next qualifiers.

Lan is the sole Asian athlete to progress to the semi-final which is slated for 6:35 pm on August 2 (Vietnam time). The Vietnamese athlete will compete against 23 other rivals for the top eight places to the final.

Right after Lan’s historic semi-final berth was confirmed, the Vietnam Athletics Federation has decided to reward her with VND 30 million.