HOANG Xuan Vinh

General
EYES ON TOKYO
In 2020 he said that he would skip the 2021 Southeast Asian Games in Hanoi, Vietnam, to focus on the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. He had previously competed at 10 consecutive editions of the Southeast Asian Games since 2001. "The 2021 Southeast Asian Games should be a chance for young athletes to prove themselves. I won't participate in this event because I have to put all of my focus into qualifying for the Olympics. My dream is to compete at the Olympics once more." (e.vnexpress.net, 03 Mar 2021, 25 Nov 2020; baohoabinh.com.vn, 08 May 2020; straitstimes.com, 07 Dec 2019)

NO HEIR
He says despite his achievements in the sport, his children have not shown an interest in following him into shooting. "They are proud of my achievements, but they don't like my sport. They prefer football. But you can't blame them. We don't have too many shooters in Vietnam. There is no money in the sport, so most of the shooters are from the army. Being the only [Vietnamese Olympic] gold medallist is a big thing, but there is no money or fame. People don't recognise me when I go on the streets." (timesofindia.indiatimes.com, 25 Feb 2019)

MYOPIA
He has myopia [nearsightedness], and uses both eyes to aim when shooting. "Although I use both eyes, I can still focus my spirit and mentality to use one eye in order to see well." (elleman.vn, 08 Aug 2016; vietnamnet.vn, 08 Aug 2016)

OTHER ACTIVITIES
He has served as a shooting instructor for the Vietnamese armed forces and held a managerial position at the Vietnam Shooting Federation. "If I retire from competing, I would certainly still have a job. Depending on the circumstances, I would be assigned a role that suits me." (baohoabinh.com.vn, 08 May 2020)

He became the first Vietnamese athlete in any sport to win a gold medal at the Olympic Games when he claimed victory in the 10m air pistol at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro. (scmp.com, 07 Aug 2016; SportsDeskOnline, 19 Jul 2021)