Đặng Thị Linh Phượng

Đặng Thị Linh Phượng is a Vietnamese powerlifter who has competed for her country at the ASEAN Para Games, and the Summer Paralympics.

Career
Đặng Thị Linh Phượng was given up to an orphanage by her parents when she was born without legs. She was adopted by her grandmother, and was brought up by her grandmother's housekeeper. Phượng was not sent to school, but was bought school books by her neighbour and was home schooled. After finishing school, she began working for a handicraft company near her home. She took up power lifting at the suggestion of a colleague. Phượng found it initially difficult, but persevered and was selected to compete in her city's disabled sports festival.

Phượng was selected as part of the Vietnamese team for the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in power lifting. Her first lift of 98 kg was followed by a second lift of 102 kg which placed her second. However, she failed to lift 104 kg, and ended in third place behind Ukraine's Soloviova Lidiia with a Paralympic record lift of 107 kg and Egypt's Ahmed Rehab. As a result of her success, she was awarded 20 million Vietnamese đồng by the Vietnamese Minister for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Nguyễn Ngọc Thiện.

At the 2017 ASEAN Para Games, she broke the record in the 50-kg category when she lifted 100 kg, breaking the previous record of 93 kg and winning the gold medal.