Gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh was voted  lthele of the year. - Photo Nhan Dan newspaper

HA NOI  – Gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh was voted 2012's most outstanding athlete, announced the Vietnam Sports newspaper and the Fund of Support to Young Vietnamese Talents yesterday.

Thanh received the most votes from sports reporters in a ballot organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, and the Viet Nam Olympic Committee.

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien and marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh placed 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 in China and a gold medal at the World Gymnastics Championships in the Czech Republic this year .

Nguyen Thanh Thuy, Thanh's trainer, was voted Coach of the Year. - VNA