Trịnh Văn Vinh

Trịnh Văn Vinh (born 17 December 1995) is a Vietnamese weightlifter. He won a silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games. He also represented Vietnam at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Early life Văn Vinh was born in 1995 in Quế Võ district, Bắc Ninh in a farming family. He started practicing weightlifting in 2008, after weightlifter coach Đõ Đình Du successfully convinced Văn Vinh's family to let him train at the province's Training Center, as he saw Văn Vinh's adaptable physique to the sport during a talent search in secondary schools throughout Bắc Ninh.

Career Early successes

Văn Vinh emerged as one of Vietnam's most promising weightlifters in the 62 kg category and was called up to the national team at the age of 20. As he began competing internationally, he won consecutive gold medals in the clean and jerk events and silver medals in the total lift at the 2016 Asian Championships. In 2017, Văn Vinh won the gold medal at the 62 kg snatch event in the 2017 World Championships, with a lift of 136 kg to set a personal record. In the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia, Văn Vinh created a big surprise in the 62 kg category as he won the gold medal with a total lift of 307 kg and set the Games' record, defeating Olympics silver medalist Eko Yuli Irawan by 1 kg.

An year later, Eko got his revenge after he winning the gold medal at the 62kg event at the 2018 Asian Games with a total lift of 311 kg. Văn Vinh won the silver medal at the second place with 12 kg less but still made history by becoming the first Vietnamese weightlifters to win a medal in this weight class.

Doping ban Following his achievements in several major competitions, Văn Vinh was in the group of athletes receiving key investment with the target to win a medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Comeback and qualification to the Olympics In February 2023, Văn Vinh finished his 4-year ban and returned to compete internationally. He participated in the 61 kg event in the Asian Games in China, ranked 6th after a total lift of 292 kg.

In August 2024, Văn Vinh competed in the men's 61 kg event at the 2024 Summer Olympics held in Paris, France. He failed three attempts to lift 128 kg in the Snatch and he did not compete in the Clean & Jerk. A successful attempt in the Snatch would have placed Văn Vinh in the third position after the lift.

Achievements