The Beat from Chuncheon: Vietnam's Taekwondo Poomsae Gold Journey at the 2026 World Championships

I still remember that moment. On the mat in Chuncheon, South Korea, amid hundreds of spectators, two Vietnamese athletes stepped into the ready stance. Nguyen Thi Le Kim, 24, and Nguyen Thien Phung, 28, stood a careful distance apart. They took a deep breath, in unison. The command began. Every hand movement, every kick, every step – all as if programmed. Not a single error. When the form ended, the arena fell silent for a split second. Then the scores appeared. Gold. I have witnessed many matches, but that moment still made my heart pound. That is the truest heartbeat, not in the stands, but beneath the feet of early morning training sessions. The 2026 World Taekwondo Poomsae Championships were held in Chuncheon, South Korea – the birthplace of this martial art. This is a arena that gathers hundreds of athletes from all continents, competing in two main categories: poomsae (forms) and kyorugi (sparring). Poomsae, also known as forms, is a demonstration event where athletes perform prescribed forms, scored on accuracy, technique, and aesthetics. There is no direct confrontation, no knockout, no weight classes. Instead, athletes compete in age groups: U30, U40, U50. This is a fundamental difference from combat martial arts. Vietnam participated with a squad of veterans and young talents. Among them, Nguyen Thien Phung stood out, having won gold in the mixed pair U50 at the 2026 World Championships in Hong Kong with Chau Tuyet Van. This year, the lineup changed: Chau Tuyet Van no longer paired with Phung; instead, Nguyen Thi Le Kim took her place. This change raised many questions about the ability to repeat the achievement. But with 46 years of industry observation, I realized this was not a random substitution. It was part of the team's generational transition strategy. To understand the significance of this gold medal, one must look back at the context of poomsae. Unlike kyorugi – the combat event that appeared in the Olympics – poomsae is purely a demonstration sport. Athletes do not compete against each other but against themselves, against the form, and against the judges' scoring system. Scores are divided into two parts: accuracy and presentation. Accuracy includes technical elements such as stance, posture, kick power, and hand positioning. Presentation includes speed, power, rhythm, expression, and spirit. In the mixed pair event, synchronization is key. Two athletes must perform movements almost perfectly in time, creating a unified whole. Any misalignment results in deductions. Therefore, changing a partner is a big gamble. It requires training time, mutual understanding, and high adaptability. Nguyen Thien Phung, as the anchor, demonstrated the class of a true champion. He not only performed his part well but also guided Le Kim – who was pairing with him for the first time at a world championship. In training sessions in Nha Trang that I had the chance to observe, I saw Phung constantly adjusting Le Kim's posture, reminding her about breathing rhythm and the stopping point of each movement. These are small details but decisive for success. I counted the rhythm of each movement as if counting the breath of a collective breathing together. Whenever Le Kim showed signs of distraction, Phung gently placed his hand on her shoulder, like a silent encouragement. That chemistry did not come from luck, but from hundreds of hours of training. At this year's tournament, the Phung – Le Kim pair went through a challenging journey. They successively defeated opponents from Myanmar, Chinese Taipei, Turkey, Iran, and Denmark to win gold. This is a journey spanning four continents, demonstrating the diversity and competitiveness of the event. However, notable was the absence of South Korean athletes – those considered the benchmark of poomsae. According to sources from the organizing committee, no South Korean athletes participated in the mixed pair U50 event. This significantly reduced the difficulty of the bracket. An anonymous coach of the Vietnamese team admitted: "If Korea were there, our chances would be much harder." This is important information, as it shows that this gold medal, though precious, cannot yet assert parity with poomsae powerhouses. However, the efforts of the entire team cannot be denied. Under the leadership of coach Nguyen Thanh Huy, the Vietnamese team prepared thoroughly. Coach Huy has been with the team through multiple cycles, from 2026 to now. He is the architect of the generational transition strategy, boldly bringing Le Kim in to replace Chau Tuyet Van. This decision was not easy, as Van is one of Vietnam's most veteran and accomplished athletes. But Van still appeared in other events: she competed in the individual U40 and team U50 events. This shows Van has not retired but is gradually transitioning to a mentor role. She is a role model for the next generation, a "shoulder" for Le Kim to lean on. After a media shock, people do not need more perspectives; they need a shoulder. Van is that shoulder. Looking at the lineup, the "veteran – rookie" model that the Vietnamese team is building is clear. Chau Tuyet Van (31) is the veteran, having been through many international tournaments. Nguyen Thi Le Kim (24) is the rookie, expected to inherit. Nguyen Thien Phung (28) is the anchor, playing a connecting role. There is also Lien Thi Tuyet Mai, another young face in the team. This distribution shows the long-term vision of the coaching staff. They are not only thinking about immediate results but also preparing for the future. However, there are concerns about dependence on Phung. He is the one who won gold in two consecutive cycles with two different partners. This confirms Phung's class but also raises the question: can the team maintain its performance without him? Currently, no other male athlete is of sufficient caliber to replace him. This is a risk that must be taken into account. On the professional side, an important point must be clarified: the U30, U40, and U50 groups are not weight classes. These are age divisions, based on the athlete's age. In poomsae, there are no weight classes as in combat martial arts. This means athletes do not undergo harsh weight cuts, have no risk of dehydration, and no pressure about weight. This is a great health advantage. However, it also means athletes face issues of aging and musculoskeletal deterioration. Jump kicks, spins, and holding balance in difficult positions can cause chronic injuries such as tendonitis and joint degeneration. That is the main risk in this sport. Historically, this is not the first time Vietnam has won a world poomsae gold. In 2026, also at the World Championships in Hong Kong, the pair Chau Tuyet Van – Nguyen Thien Phung won gold in the mixed pair U50. Thus, the 2026 gold is a successful title defense, but with a different lineup. This is significant: it proves that success does not come from a single individual but from an entire system. However, it should be noted that this is not Vietnam's first-ever gold at a World Championship. The "first gold of the tournament" information reported by some media is accurate if understood as the first gold of the Vietnamese delegation at the 2026 event, but it can easily be misread as the first ever. This confusion needs clarification to avoid creating false expectations. Another aspect to consider is the nature of poomsae in the international competition system. Poomsae is not an Olympic sport. Only kyorugi is in the Olympic program. This greatly affects the sport's sponsorship, media, and commercialization potential. Poomsae tournaments are rarely broadcast live, attract few major sponsors, and offer little prize money. Therefore, the value of the gold medal lies mainly in national prestige and recognition from the professional community. Poomsae athletes are usually funded by the state or federation, not making a living as professional fighters. This is a reality that must be faced frankly. Commercially, this gold medal brings certain benefits to the Vietnam Taekwondo Federation. It can help attract new students, increase support from domestic sponsors, and strengthen the sport's position in the national sports system. However, these benefits are indirect and difficult to measure. There is no specific data on new student numbers, sponsorship revenue, or bonuses the team received. We can only speculate that these numbers will increase after the success in Chuncheon. This is completely different from professional sports like football or boxing, where achievements are often tied to lucrative sponsorship contracts. Returning to the tournament, a notable point is the absence of South Korean athletes in the mixed pair U50. South Korea is considered the birthplace of Taekwondo, and South Korean athletes are always top contenders in any event. Their absence from this event could be due to many reasons: they may not have a qualifying pair, or they focus on other events, or simply they did not send athletes. Whatever the reason, this absence opened opportunities for other countries, including Vietnam. This is an objective factor that must be acknowledged. It does not diminish the value of the gold medal, but it reminds us that to truly assert its position, Vietnam needs to overcome South Korean opponents. In that context, the victory of Phung – Le Kim is still very proud. They showed courage and remarkable progress. In particular, Le Kim proved she deserves her place in the lineup. She is not just a replacement but a promising new factor. At 24, she has plenty of time to develop. Together with Phung, they can become Vietnam's core pair for many years. However, to do so, they need more systematic investment, from training and nutrition to regular participation in international tournaments. Another issue to consider is athlete overload. Le Kim not only competed in the mixed pair but also in the women's team event. She was one of the athletes with the highest competition load at the tournament. This carries a risk of overuse injuries. Meanwhile, Chau Tuyet Van also competed in two events: individual U40 and team U50. At 31, competing in two different age groups shows her flexibility and desire to contribute. But it also raises questions about managing competition load to ensure long-term health for athletes. Regarding health and medicine, poomsae is considered much safer than combat martial arts. There is no direct impact, no risk of brain injury, no weight cutting. The main risks are overuse injuries such as tendonitis, sprains, and joint degeneration. To prevent these, athletes need scientific training, proper rest, and regular medical care. Currently, information about athletes' health is not widely disclosed. This is a limitation in comprehensively assessing their achievements. Broadly speaking, the success of the Vietnam Taekwondo Poomsae team at the 2026 World Championships is a notable milestone. It is not only the pride of the athletes but also the joy of fans nationwide. However, to maintain and develop this achievement, a long-term strategy is needed. That includes investing in youth training, building a successor team, strengthening international cooperation, and raising public awareness of poomsae. Only then will gold medals have truly sustainable meaning. When the stadium is empty, we clap from afar to remind each other that heartbeat needs no distance. In Chuncheon, although there were not crowds of Vietnamese spectators in the stands, through screens and news lines, we still felt the shared heartbeat. That heartbeat is not only the joy of victory but also the connection between people on two hemispheres, sharing the same love for martial arts. In the near future, the team will head to the next continental and world tournaments. The immediate goal is to maintain a top position in Asia and gradually advance further. With Le Kim's growth and Phung's guidance, along with coach Nguyen Thanh Huy's leadership, the Vietnamese team can hope for a new cycle of success. But to achieve that, they need the cooperation of the whole society, from managers and sponsors to fans. At 62, I have learned that time does not make a team old; it only makes the story thicker. The story of Vietnam Taekwondo Poomsae is being written. And I, as a companion, will continue to record those heartbeats, from early morning training sessions, from sweat on the mat, to glorious moments on the podium. Because, for me, the truest heartbeat is not in the stands, but beneath the feet of early morning training sessions.