Mother of four Van Trang wins women's 42km at Y Ty, hits back at body-shaming: 'I run with my legs, not with people's mouths'

Van Trang, nicknamed Jang Doll, created one of the most memorable moments at the Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race. She finished first among women in the 42km category with a time of 4 hours 26 minutes, and also placed second overall, behind only one male runner. Instead of being celebrated for these impressive numbers, she had to endure hurtful remarks about her appearance. Her response was as direct as her racing style: “I run with my legs, not with people's mouths.” The Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race took place on September 6 in the mountainous terrain of Lao Than peak in Y Ty commune, Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province. This is not a gentle scenic course. The 42km distance features more than 1,300 meters of cumulative elevation gain, with the summit at 2,860 meters above sea level. Thin air, long steep climbs and constantly changing terrain make it a true physical test for any runner. Speaking to reporters after crossing the finish line, Van Trang said: “The 42km race has slopes that almost drain the body of energy. At that moment I only focused on each section ahead, kept my breathing, managed my energy and refueled at the right time. I always told myself: 'Stay calm, as long as you still have strength, you still have a chance.'” The more compelling part is not her technical answer, but how she built her fitness. Van Trang was born in 2026, is a mother of four, and lives in Hanoi. She does not train like a fully professional athlete. Instead, she follows consistent discipline: besides running, she does gym work, swimming and supplementary exercises to build endurance every day. Her strength comes from perseverance, not luck. Looking at the numbers, Van Trang's performance is far more convincing than the online chatter. 4 hours 26 minutes for 42km with more than 1,300 meters of elevation gain equals an average speed of about 9.5km/h, meaning an average pace of around 6 minutes 20 seconds per kilometer. On trail terrain with steep climbs, this is a result that requires strong aerobic fitness, good pacing and careful nutrition strategy. She did not run on emotion; she ran according to plan. However, that achievement risked being overshadowed by the side story. Soon after photos of Van Trang on the course appeared, some online users posted inappropriate comments about her naturally large bust in tight sportswear. The phrase “carrying two pomelos while running” was used to mock a woman who had just left most male runners behind in a brutal trail race. This is one of the worst habits of a certain part of sports spectators: they see the body before the achievement, prejudice before data. Van Trang did not choose silence. She immediately responded: “Honestly, I dare anyone to carry two pomelos and run 42km or 55km on mountain trails! I run with my legs, not because of my appearance, so why put me in groups to gossip? People see pressure, I see it as 'vitamin C' for my spirit. What matters is that I still finished and I am healthy and happy. You can keep judging; I run with my own legs, not with people's mouths!” Her strength does not come from aggressively resisting public opinion, but from refusing to let public opinion rewrite the race she ran. Asked whether she would choose more conservative clothing to avoid stares, Van Trang affirmed: “Sports clothes must first be comfortable and safe. If I change myself just because I fear judgments, I would end up living under other people's eyes forever. I choose to focus on the course and my goal.” This is what makes Van Trang's story go beyond a single achievement. She is not only winning on the course; she is redefining how a female athlete should be viewed. For years, women in sports were judged by appearance before ability. They were filmed from disrespectful angles and discussed in the language of the marketplace rather than the language of sport. Van Trang has turned the mockery into a reverse signal: achievement cannot lie. What impresses many people is how she responded without turning herself into a victim. Van Trang did not ask for sympathy. She simply drew a line: appearance is a personal matter, while achievement is the result of years of training. She also sent a message to the running community, hoping people would see women in sports as human beings working to overcome limits, not objects to be examined. Van Trang said plainly: “For women playing sports, what deserves recognition first is effort and achievement. Appearance is each person's story, but achievement is the result of years of training. When looking at a girl on the course, I hope people see someone trying to conquer her own limits.” Her story does not stop at the Y Ty finish line. After winning first place among women in the 42km and second place overall, Van Trang is now setting more distant challenges. She targets the 70km distance at the upcoming VMM race, then the 100km category at the end of the year. For a mother of four who must balance family, work and training, the 100km mountain milestone is a major ambition. But judging by how she handled pressure at Y Ty, no one can doubt her ability to make that goal a reality. She said: “Let achievement speak. I do not need to become the version others want to see. It is enough to become a better version of myself every day.” When a woman runs faster than almost every male runner in a race, mockery about her bust size becomes absurd. Van Trang's achievement is a clear reminder: women's sport does not need to beg for compliments; it needs to be seen according to its competitive value. If society is still not used to respecting a muscular woman, a sweating mother, an athlete crossing the line gasping for breath, then that gap is exactly what people like Van Trang are filling one step at a time. The glory at Lao Than may be over, but the echo of her response will linger for a long time. Van Trang not only conquered a mountain; she laid an important stone in how Vietnam's running community deals with body-shaming. She does not need people to like her appearance; she only needs them to see the course she has traveled. That is the true spirit of a real runner.