Standing tall: Gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh has been voted the Athlete of the Year in 2012. — VNA/VNS Photo

HA NOI (VNS)— Gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh is the country's 2012 Athlete, according to the The Thao Viet Nam (Viet Nam Sports) newspaper.

Thanh received 1,570 points in the annual vote held in Ha Noi, Da Nang and HCM City last week, leaving other athletes far behind.

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien (1,020 points) and marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh (914 points) place second and third, respectively.

Born in Hai Phong City, Thanh made Vietnamese history by becoming the country's first athlete to win a gold medal at the Asian Gymnastics Championships' vault in China as well as a gold medal at the FIG Art Challenge Cup Grand Prix OSTRAVA in the Czech Republic in 2012.

She was also the first Vietnamese athlete to earn an official spot in the London Olympics in August.

This is the second time in a row that the 22-year-old athlete has topped the list of outstanding athletes. Last year she got 1,425 points.

Also on the top ten list are chess master Nguyen Anh Khoi, gymnast Nguyen Ha Thanh, weightlifter Tran Le Quoc Toan, walker Nguyen Thi Thanh Phuc, badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh, fencer Nguyen Tien Nhat, and high jumper Duong Thi Viet Anh.

Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Thanh's trainer, was voted Coach of the Year, followed by shooting coach Nguyen Thi Nhung and chess coach Nguyen Thanh Son.

In the competition for Athletes with Disabilities of the Year, powerlifter Nguyen Thi Hong from HCM City took the top title with 607 points after ranking fourth in the London Olympics women's 40kg category, setting both a career best and a new height for Viet Nam.

Nguyen Hong Phuc takes the Coach of a Disabled Athlete title. Phuc is a powerlifting coach. — VNS