Considered a swimming child prodigy and a member of the national swimming selection since age 14, Nguyen Huu Kim Son possesses an impressive record of achievements, counting many medals and records at big swimming events.
Kim Son (above and below, second from left) won gold at the SEA Games in 2017 and 2022
Of note, Kim Son won gold twice at the SEA Games: in 2017 and 2022. Although swimming is his passion, Kim Son’s dream is to work in finance or business.
The 90% scholarship for the full course which DTU awarded him will give Kim Son the best possible conditions to realize his dream by signing up for Business Administration at the university in 2022.
From learning to swim for survival to swimming wonder child of Vietnam
Born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Kim Son learnt how to swim at age five when his grandfather decided he needed one more way to survive in nature. This gave Kim Son’s life a completely new turn which even he himself had never thought of.
When learning to swim, Kim Son clearly showed an aptitude for it. He was immediately noticed by the coach and accepted for training at district level.
At the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) of 2017 in Malaysia, Kim Son - then only 15 years old - surprised by winning the men’s 400 m individual medley with 4:22.12.
The achievement broke the previous SEA Games record that had been standing for 14 years, established by Ratapong Sirisanont (a Thai athlete with 4:23.20) at the 2003 SEA Games in Vietnam.
Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam congratulating Kim Son for his gold medal at the SEA Games of 2022
This made Kim Son the first male swimmer to win Vietnam a gold medal, and it was also the first time Kim Son participated in the SEA Games. Since then, he took part in more competitions and put down impressive achievements both in Vietnam and internationally.
“I love swimming; it’s my passion,” Kim Son admits. “Maybe what I’m best at is swimming [laughs] and what I do most is swimming. My training day usually starts at 7h30 in the morning and ends at 5h20 in the afternoon.
“My goal is to be allowed to compete in the 2024 Olympics. I’ve been working without pause on it.”
Passion for swimming, but still likes business
“My passion is swimming, but my dream is to work in finance or business,” Kim Son admits. “The person who had most influence on me to give me that passion is none but my father.
“Ever since I was still little, I saw my father working and I learnt a huge lot from him. He’s a businessman but he’s also a very skilled manager.
“Currently, my father manages a restaurant and a rather large nail salon in the US, which he opened himself. I’d love to take over his business later. That’s why I decided already when in junior high that I’d study Business Administration, Finance, or Marketing.”
Swimming child prodigy Kim Son competing at the Sea Games of 2022
After research and getting advice from family and friends, Kim Son resolved to study Business Administration at DTU. “I spent quite some time researching prestigious universities offering Business Administration,” Kim Son confirms.
“I’m positively impressed with DTU for their infrastructure, lecturers, study environment, and training methods - on a par with many well-developed countries around the world.
“And particularly, the training program was transferred from a very famous university: Pennsylvania State University, in the country my father works. Those are the reasons I chose to study at DTU.”
With his achievements and with his contributions to the glory of sports in Vietnam, Nguyen Huu Kim Son received a 90% scholarship for the full course from DTU.
This is not just an award for this young Vietnamese swimmer, but it will also be an encouragement for Kim Son to do even more his best in the university classrooms to realize his dream.
(Media Center)