Talented Nguyen Thi Anh Vien of Team Vietnam was honoured with the Female Mega Athlete title on Wednesday at the closing ceremony of the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in the Philippines.  

The 23-year-old swimmer won six gold medals and two silvers, becoming the best female contender at the Games.

Vien was commended “following her impressive showing in swimming events held at the New Clark City Aquatics Center,” according to a post on the verified Facebook account of the biennial multi-sport event.

“Congratulations to Vietnam's amazing and par excellence female athlete!” 

Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien has decided to reward her with VND100 million (US$4,338).

In total, Vien has been promised over VND800 million ($34,700) in rewards for her achievements.

Vien swam for Vietnam at the 2016 Olympics and clinched a bronze in swimming at the 2014 Asian Games, which was the Southeast Asian county’s first-ever swimming medal at the Games.

She was named Vietnam's Athlete of the Year in 2013 and 2014.

The swimmer is a serving military officer.

Singapore’s swimmer Quah Zheng was named Male Mega Athlete for winning the same number of medals as Vien.

The 30th SEA Games are considered the most successful edition for Team Vietnam, as they claimed 98 gold, 85 silver, and 105 bronze medals, ranking second behind the host and outdoing third-placed Team Thailand.

At the closing ceremony, Minister Thien received a flag as a formality to take over the hosting of the Southeast Asian Games from the Philippines.

Hanoi will host the 31st Games in 2021.

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