Nguyen Thi Anh Vien has won a historic bronze medal at the ongoing FINA World Cup in Moscow, Russia. — Photo news.zing.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Nguyen Thi Anh Vien has notched up another milestone in her career by winning a bronze medal at the ongoing FINA World Cup in Moscow, Russia.

The Vietnamese swimmer finished third in the women's 200m individual medley event with a time of 2min 12.33 sec, a new national and Southeast Asian record.

The winner was world champion Katinka Hosszu of Hungary who finished with a time of 2:10.68. Her country fellow Zsuzsanna Jakobos came second with 2:12.15.

Vien made a slow start, but became the second fastest after the first 100m.

In the next 50m, Vien was down to the third position and maintained it till the end.

Her bronze medal is a historic one as a Vietnamese swimmer has reached the world-level competition's top three ranks for the first time.

"I am really happy with the World Cup bronze, but I have to try harder (for better results)," Vien said.

"She collected valuable experience at the Kazan world championships. I hope the bronze medal will be a strong force, helping her to compete better, especially in her strongpoint of the 400m individual medley here in Moscow," Coach Dang Anh Tuan said.

The 18-year-old will compete with six rivals in the 400m individual medley final on August 12.

Her strongest opponent is ‘iron lady' Katinka, who won this event in

Kazan last week.

Vien will then fly to Paris for another World Cup event on August 15 and 16. — VNS