Van Trang 'carrying 2 grapefruits' runs 42km: Y Ty champion fires back at body-shaming

The image of a small woman crossing the finish line amid the thunderous applause of the mountains of Lao Cai will stay with me for a long time. Van Trang — a mother of four, born in 2026 — has just written a running story that I believe will be repeated across Vietnam. On the morning of September 6, 2026, the Y Ty Mua Vang race witnessed the name Jang Doll beautifully claiming the top women's spot at the 42km distance. But if it stopped there, few would talk about her. What demands attention is another detail: Van Trang finished in 4 hours 26 minutes, beating nearly all male runners and ranking second overall, behind only one man. Few understand the harshness of the Y Ty 42km trail with its cumulative elevation gain of over 1,300m. Thin air at 2,860m Mount Lao Than plus brutal slopes can crush even the most experienced athletes. Having worked at many international races, I know one thing: on routes like this, the winner is not always the strongest — but the one who listens to their own body step by step. Van Trang explains it simply: "The 42km had slopes that nearly drained all energy. I just focused on the next stretch, kept my breathing steady, rationed my strength, and fueled properly. I kept telling myself: 'Stay calm, as long as there's strength, there's still a chance.'" That calm has been built through long, disciplined training — running, gym, swimming, auxiliary exercises. But what caught my attention was not the mileage, but how this woman faced a bitter paradox of women's sport. Right after she stepped off the podium, Van Trang was brought into running groups for rude comments. People did not talk about the 42km or the 1,300m elevation. They only noticed her naturally large bust under a tight outfit and used the phrase "carrying 2 grapefruits" to mock her. I have heard body-shaming stories in women's sport so many times, but Van Trang's reaction left me genuinely impressed. "Honestly, I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits for 42km or 55km on mountain trails! I run with my legs, not with my looks, so why bring me into groups for gossip? People see pressure, I see it as 'Vitamin C' for my spirit. What matters is I still finished and I am happy and healthy." She chose not to stay silent, nor to change herself to please others. "Sports clothing must be comfortable and safe first. If I change because I fear judgment, I would always live under someone else's gaze," Van Trang asserted. I remember my data analysis days at Runner's World: there is something numbers cannot measure — the spirit. Metrics are essential, but no number can measure a woman's ability to stand up after being torn down by harsh words. Van Trang turned insults into "vitamin C" — mental fuel she created amid the mountains of Lao Cai. What I truly admire is the way she never lost sight of her bigger goal. Right after Y Ty glory, the mother of four mentioned the grueling VMM 70km race, and then the 100km distance by year end. She refuses to stop at winning against a bunch of online mockers; she wants to conquer herself on ever longer trails. At 61, I learned that sport is never old, only our way of seeing becomes worn. Some people's way of seeing Van Trang may be outdated, but the steps she left on Lao Than and her witty, fierce reply will make many people rethink how they view women in sports. Because for Van Trang, she runs with her legs, not with the mouths of others. Perhaps we should learn how this tiny woman faces both a mountain and mockery: never backing down, keeping her own breathing rhythm.