Bao’s first sports competition was in 2007, in Hanoi, Vietnam. In 2023, she participated in Special Olympics World Winter Games in Korea (running on the snow). She won a gold medal in bocce at Special Olympics World Summer Games in Los Angeles, USA in 2015. Now she is a bocce athlete in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Before joining Special Olympics, Bao was a shy girl. She did not like to talk with others and had difficulties remembering. After some time of consistent training in bocce, Bao connected with other athletes and created friendships. Her confidence in communication improved significantly. Bao chose to become a Health Messenger because she wants to help her peers to have good health. She wants to share her knowledge, and spread out positive energy to everyone around her.
As a Health Messenger, Bao speaks at some health events in Vietnam. She likes to share her understanding of healthy food. With the help of her teachers and family, she guides others to choose healthy options. For example, she educates others to avoid taking soft drinks because they are bad for their health. Most importantly, Bao is a role model for her fellow athletes and the community she lives in.
After training time, Bao supports her mom with household duties and taking care of her niece and nephew. She often rides her bicycle in the neighborhood and she creates time to chat with her friends on the phone.
Health Messengers 2023
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Boniface Kimeu
Special Olympics Kenya -
Joyce Ramabusa
Special Olympics South Africa -
Ndèye Rokhaya Gaye
Special Olympics Senegal -
Juliwati Japi
Special Olympics Indonesia -
Nguyen Ngoc Bao Tran
Special Olympics Vietnam -
Li Yan Ho
Special Olympics Hong Kong -
Tina Sirui Jia
Special Olympics China -
Janka Weber
Special Olympics Germany -
Michaela Duchova
Special Olympics Slovakia -
Peter Ispold
Special Olympics Slovakia -
Reynaldo Montova
Special Olympics Germany -
Catalina Cervantes Gamboa
Special Olympics Costa Rica -
Erika Maradiaga Soler
Special Olympics Honduras -
Gabriela Patricia Velásquez Rodríguez
Special Olympics El Salvador -
Paavlena Madhivana
Special Olympics Arizona -
Travis Sherrer
Special Olympics Alaska -
Katherine Elizabeth Little
Special Olympics British Columbia