Irish weightlifter Thammy Nguyen won two bronze medals at the 2024 European Championships in Sofia this week, marking back to back successes for the Dublin woman at the competition.
Triumphing in the Clean&Jerk as well as the overall outing at 49kg, Nguyen, who’s also a mum of two, announced following her victory that it would be her final European Championships.
𝗛𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗥 | Tham Nguyen ☘️🥉
Tham Nguyen has done it again, making history yesterday at the 2023 European Championships in Sofia,
🥉🥉
After last years European Championships, Tham has now won back to back bronze medals in the Clean&Jerk, then making history… pic.twitter.com/rgFgDZfTk7— Team Ireland (@TeamIreland) February 13, 2024
Taking to Instagram to relay that message, as well as the emotional rollercoaster she’s been on in recent months, she spoke of her win amid utter exhaustion.
“To be honest how I feel right now, absolutely burnt out to my core. I'm exhausted,” she says.
"I'm emotionally, mentally, physically and financially exhausted."
“I'm exhausted in trying to fit in being a mam of 2 , full time athlete and juggling businesses. I'm honestly so so tired. And Olympic qualification process has drained me even more.
“Behind the scene, I had a very dark few months I kept to myself and my close team mates seen my messed up journey to today.
“Closing, moving gym, I didn't get a full night sleep for a month , an on going court case 2 years finally only finished in Jan, full Olympic qualification has left me with 20% In the tank yesterday.
The mountain feels it's too hard to climb for me right now.”
Going on to detail her mental and physical fatigue, she also refers to her own performance at the competition as a “2/10” showcase, then lets her audience in behind the curtain to see a promise she made to her kids in the lead up to the competition.
“Today my body just said no, but somehow the universe happened to give me 2 bronzes medal to bring home. Each one for my kids,” she says.
“A letter I wrote to my kids the morning of competition, Mammy promises to bring you a medal each after this competition.”
Irish weightlifter Thammy Nguyen looks ahead to her “last dance”
Irish weightlifter Thammy Nguyen also spoke on her social media about how she turned down media opportunities and attempted to get more rest in the period leading up to this year’s European Championships.
With her busy life as a mother, a businesswoman and an athlete, she feels her time on the weightlifting world stage may be soon approaching.
“This will be my last Europeans for Team Ireland, I feel my duty is nearly coming to an end,” she says.
“For now I just want to share my journey to this date, and on how I really feel. I'm not ashamed about it I'm proud the fight I gave for my kids , mammy never breaks her promise.
“Catch you in Thailand for the LAST DANCE.”
