Gymnast’s career could be over after paralyzing accident

On Tuesday, the Vietnam Gymnastic Federation (VGF) revealed that Triet landed on his head while practicing a backflip during a practice session at the National Sports Training Center in Hanoi on Nov. 10. The accident paralyzed his arms and legs, and he had to undergo immediate emergency surgery.

Doctors have so far said it will be difficult for Triet to recover in full.

He is currently under treatment for spinal paralysis and pneumonia at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi.

Gymnast Nguyen Minh Triet. Photo by Vietnam Gymnastics Federation

Triet, 17, has been one of the young hopes for the Vietnamese national gymnastics program.

Coaches have said that he trains very hard and keeps close to his heart the dream of competing for Vietnam and becoming a gymnastics star.

Every month, Triet spends his entire salary supporting his family. His father is over 60 years old and retired, his mother has cancer, and his brother is sick and unable to work. He also has a five-year-old sister.

The National Sports Training Center has covered the initial cost of surgery for Triet, as required by regulations.

But according to VGF, Triet will need to fund the further development of his treatment process, which will be extremely expensive. His family is in a bad financial situation, so VGF called on “organizations and individuals from the community” to help support him in his treatment and recovery.

Triet’s father Nguyen Huu Minh confirmed that the family is currently hard-up and that Triet is the whole family’s sole economic caregiver.

“Unfortunately, he had an accident and the situation is even more miserable,” said Minh. “All we want is for our son to be healthy again like before.”