Van Trang – 'Jang Doll' stuns at Y Ty Mua Vang 2026, fires back at body shamers after winning women's 42km

On the morning of September 6, 2026, as the first sunlight struggled to pierce the thick mist over the La Lao Than mountain range, Y Ty village in Bat Xat district, Lao Cai province, put on its golden coat of ripening rice. More than a thousand runners gathered for the 2026 Y Ty Mua Vang trail running race. They came from provinces across Vietnam and several other countries, but all faced the same brutal test: conquering a 42km course with more than 1,300m of elevation gain, steep terrain and thin air at altitudes above 2,800m. At exactly 4 hours 26 minutes after the starting gun, a small woman with her long hair tied back and steady strides crossed the finish line amid loud applause. She was Van Trang, nicknamed Jang Doll, a mother of four born in 2026 in Hanoi. She had just completed 42km in 4:26, taking first place in the women's category. Even more remarkably, she finished second overall, ahead of nearly every male runner and only behind one man. This result did not shock those who have followed Vietnam's trail running scene in recent years. Van Trang is not a professional athlete. She started running after giving birth, initially as a way to regain fitness. From the first runs around Hoan Kiem Lake to the rugged northern highlands, she turned her passion into an endless journey of self-improvement. Speaking to reporters after the award ceremony, Van Trang said: "The 42km course has sections where my body almost ran out of energy. At those moments, I focused only on the next few meters, controlled my breathing, managed my pace and took energy at the right time. I kept telling myself: 'Stay calm, as long as I still have strength, there is still a chance.' This endurance comes from daily discipline. Besides running, I combine gym work, swimming and supplementary exercises to build strength bit by bit." Y Ty Mua Vang is one of Vietnam's most challenging trail races. Its route features slippery terraced rice fields, vertical climbs and rapidly changing weather. When the morning fog lifted, temperatures rose quickly, draining the athletes' energy. A victory by a 35-year-old mother of four is therefore a remarkable demonstration that persistence and scientific training can create a huge difference. But behind the glory, Van Trang had to confront a painful paradox of modern society. Shortly after photos of her crossing the finish line in tight sportswear were shared in running groups, some social media users ignored her performance and focused instead on her natural bust size. Some even made crude jokes, saying she was "carrying two grapefruits while running." Rather than staying silent, Van Trang answered back with courage and wit: "I dare anyone to run 42km or 55km of mountain trails carrying two grapefruits! I run with my legs, not with my appearance, so why do people drag me into these groups to gossip? Some people see pressure, I see it as extra vitamin C fueling my spirit. The important thing is I still finish and I am happy and healthy. Judge all you want – I run with my own legs, not with other people's mouths." Her bold response immediately drew strong support from the running community and sports fans. She also raised a systemic issue that many women in sports still face: "For women in sports, the first thing to acknowledge is effort and achievement. Appearance is a personal matter; achievement is the result of years of training. When you look at a girl on the racecourse, I want you to see someone who is striving to conquer her own limits." Asked whether she would choose more conservative clothing to avoid unwanted attention, Van Trang refused firmly. She said sportswear must first be comfortable and safe, not designed to please others. "If I change myself merely because I am afraid of judgment, I would have to live my whole life under other people's eyes," she declared. To her, marathon running has taught an invaluable lesson about life. Not every race goes as planned, and not every trail is smooth. There are days when your legs hurt, when the weather is against you and when your mind drops. But all these are just part of the journey. "Marathon teaches me that you will not always run in perfect conditions. Life is the same," she said after the ceremony. "Praise makes me happy; criticism helps me reflect. But malicious remarks – I choose to let them go." Van Trang's story goes beyond personal achievement. It is a powerful message about changing society's perception of women in sport. When a mother of four can finish a 42km mountain race in 4:26 and beat hundreds of male opponents, comments about her chest or body shape are simply an insult that does not deserve attention. After her victory at Y Ty, Van Trang has no intention of slowing down. She revealed that her next goal is the grueling 70km ultra trail at the Vietnam Mountain Marathon (VMM), followed by a 100km race at the end of the year. For her, every extra kilometer is not just a physical milestone, but a way to prove that human limits can always be rewritten. "Let achievements speak. I don't need to become the version someone else wants to see. Becoming a better version of myself every day is enough," Van Trang concluded as the golden afternoon sun bathed Y Ty village. As bigger challenges await, Van Trang will keep running the hardest trails. She does not need the approval of those who judge her from behind a screen. For her, the path to the top always begins with one question: Have I run better today than yesterday? And she will always have the answer.