Mother of four wins Y Ty Mua Vang 42km and fires back at body-shamers: 'I run with my legs, not with other people's mouths'

Y Ty, Lao Cai – 4 hours 26 minutes. That was the time Van Trang clocked when she crossed the finish line of the 42km distance at the 2026 Y Ty Mua Vang mountain race on the morning of September 6. The result made her the first woman finisher in the 42km category and second overall, ahead of nearly all male runners. Y Ty Mua Vang is one of the toughest trail races in northern Vietnam. Runners face nearly 1,300 meters of cumulative climbing, steep slopes, and thin air near the summit of Lao Than mountain, which rises more than 2,860 meters above sea level. For any amateur runner, completing these 42km is a major achievement. For Van Trang, a mother of four born in 2026, finishing the strenuous course in 4:26 was proof of years of disciplined training. A video provided by Van Trang shows her crossing the finish line wearing a tight running outfit, her face covered in sweat but still smiling brightly. That moment should have been celebrated as a remarkable athletic feat. Yet a portion of social media users ignored her result and focused on her naturally large bust, using crude comments such as "carrying two grapefruits while running." Van Trang did not stay silent. She hit back directly: "I dare anyone to carry two grapefruits for 42km or 55km of mountain trails! I run with my legs. I don't run on my appearance, so why put me in a group to gossip about my body?" She added: "Some people see pressure; I see vitamin C for my spirit. What matters is that I still finished, and I still feel happy and healthy. Judge all you want. I run with my feet, not with other people's mouths." Her response quickly spread through online running communities. The message became more than a personal rebuttal. It touched on a deeper issue: women in sport are often judged by how they look rather than what they achieve. In Vietnam, female athletes are regularly put on an aesthetic scale instead of being recognized for their training and dedication. A female marathon runner must train five or six sessions a week, control her nutrition, push through fatigue and bad weather, and keep her mind strong. Instead of acknowledging these efforts, people often stare at her tight shirt and ignore her heart rate, running pace, total distance, and thousands of kilometers of practice. Van Trang is from Hanoi. She started running as a young mother and gradually fell in love with trail running because of the feeling of conquering nature. In the running community, she is known by the nickname Jang Doll. She combines running with gym, swimming, and supplementary exercises to build endurance. During an interview, Van Trang explained that her victory at Y Ty Mua Vang did not happen overnight. She talked about the moments when her body almost ran out of energy on long uphill sections, and how she told herself to stay calm, keep breathing, pace herself, and refuel at the right time. For her, running never betrays those who stay disciplined. If you train consistently, your body remembers it. Asked whether she would change her outfit to avoid stares, Van Trang refused firmly. For her, sportswear must first serve performance and safety. A loose or heavy shirt can cause chafing, limit movement, and make it harder for the body to cool down during a long race. She would rather stay comfortable than change herself to please people who do not wish her well. Van Trang's story shows how body shaming still affects women in Vietnamese sport. Male runners receive praise for their muscles and endurance, while female runners are carefully inspected from head to toe. A woman can run 42km in the mountains and finish behind only one male runner, yet one glimpse of her physical features is enough to erase all her athletic merit. This contradiction has existed for years. People are quick to talk about the beauty of a female footballer, swimmer, or runner, but rarely talk about the distances they run, the weights they lift, or the hours they spend swimming. Van Trang understands this. She chooses to respond with calm confidence. Instead of arguing with words, she lets her achievements speak. Instead of bowing to pressure, she lifts her head and moves toward the next starting line. The Y Ty Mua Vang 2026 race has ended with her title in the women's 42km category, but her journey is far from over. She has set her sights on the VMM 70km race in Sa Pa in the near future, and she does not rule out a 100km ultra trail at the end of the year. Those distances challenge even many male runners, but for Van Trang, they are simply obstacles to be conquered through discipline and consistency. Looking back at the past few days, the reaction to Van Trang shows how society still struggles with women in sport. Acknowledging an achievement means seeing her cross the finish line. Respecting her means not turning her body into a joke just because it does not match some narrow expectation. Van Trang believes sport is a mirror of human character. A person who shows up at the starting line, respects the rules, sets goals, and persists to the end deserves to be recognized for the values they create. How a woman looks while running is not something to be judged. It is her steps, her breathing, and her finish line that deserve attention. The lesson from Van Trang's story is not only for runners. It is about how society perceives women in every field. When a woman achieves something, the first thing to see is the journey she has taken. The last thing to see — or better, not to see — are physical traits that have nothing to do with her ability. Van Trang may not change the minds of everyone who mocked her. But her story has given courage to many other women. Her sharp response has helped people who once suffered body shaming in sport to believe in themselves again. After all, as she says: "Let results speak. I do not need to become the version others want to see. I only need to become a better version of myself every day."