Nguyen Thi Oanh (athletics, Vietnam) completed a hat-trick of gold medals in the 5,000 m, 10,000 m and 3,000 m steeplechase, equaling the SEA Games athletics record of 15 gold medals held by legends Jennifer Tin Lay (Myanmar) and Elma Muros (Philippines).

Her 15 gold medals came from the 1,500 m (SEA Games 29, 30, 31, 32), 5,000 m (29, 30, 31, 32, 33), 10,000 m (32, 33) and 3,000 m steeplechase (30, 31, 32, 33). The 30-year-old runner also won a silver medal in the 3,000 m steeplechase at the 27th SEA Games.