Coaches pose for a commemorative photo with Bac Thi Khiem at the 2024 Asian Taekwondo Championships.

Born in 2000 in Xa village, Muong Gion commune, Quynh Nhai district (formerly), Bac Thi Khiem showed a special love for sports from a young age. Born into a family with a tradition of sports, she regularly participated in local physical activities. However, a major turning point came in 2012 when the Son La Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center held recruitment drives in Quynh Nhai district. Khiem boldly registered and was quickly recognized by coach Mui Anh Tuat, who recognized her talent and brought her into the provincial Taekwondo team.

A strong, resilient girl, yet soft-spoken and humble when talking to us: "In the early days of getting acquainted with this new sport, I faced many difficulties. The high-intensity training, complex techniques, and repeated injuries made me consider giving up. But thanks to the encouragement of my coach, family, and friends, I was motivated and empowered to overcome these challenges, gradually maturing in a professional training environment."

With her advantageous height of 1.75m and diligent training, in 2013, Bac Thi Khiem won a Silver Medal at the National Youth Taekwondo Championship. A significant milestone came in 2015 when Khiem was called up to the national team, opening a period of remarkable development in both physical fitness and technique.

Sharing about his training process with the national team, Khiem said: "Every day, I complete a large amount of training according to the coaching staff's plan and proactively study high-level matches, do supplementary training outside of regular hours, and maintain a scientific diet to ensure the best physical condition. After matches, I review videos to adjust my movements, improve my performance, and minimize injuries."

Khiem's ​​first success came at the 30th SEA Games (2019) in the Philippines, where he brilliantly won the final match, bringing home his first SEA Games gold medal. This was followed by successfully defending his title at the 31st SEA Games; gold medals at the Southeast Asian Championships in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2025; and a bronze medal at the Asian Games (ASIAD-19) in 2023. The pinnacle of Khiem's ​​career to date is the gold medal at the 2024 Asian Taekwondo Championships. This victory is historically significant, as his opponent in the final was a South Korean fighter who had previously won a gold medal at ASIAD-19 and is currently ranked 7th in the world.

Coach Quàng Văn Lịch, who has been with the Taekwondo team for many years and has closely followed Khiêm since her early days on the team, said: "Bạc Thị Khiêm is one of the athletes who maintains a high level of discipline and professionalism, with impeccable conduct and training mindset. At the same time, she is very diligent in learning and improving her techniques and tactics. She is a very intelligent and confident martial artist with accurate and powerful kicks and the ability to quickly adapt her tactics. These factors have helped Khiêm win prestigious medals, bringing glory to the nation."

As a national Taekwondo champion since 2015, having won gold medals at the Asian and Southeast Asian Championships, Khiem is highly skilled and consistently demonstrates good discipline and conduct in training and daily life. In May 2024, Khiem was honored to be admitted to the Party by the Party Branch of the Son La Provincial Sports Training and Competition Center, serving as a shining example for other athletes to emulate.

Not resting on her laurels, after successfully conquering Southeast Asia and reaching the pinnacle of Asian glory, Khiem has always maintained her humility and diligently trained. Bac Thi Khiem is expected to continue her journey to conquer a ticket to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, bringing even greater glory to Vietnamese Taekwondo on the international stage.