After 1,200 miles on their bikes, two strangers became sisters.
In 2015, Rebecca Rusch and Huyen Nguyen set out to bike 1,200 miles of the Ho Chi Minh Trail as strangers from once-opposing countries. The two cyclists navigated the infamous trail through Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam, carrying the weight of their personal connections to the land. The journey challenged not only their physical capabilities, but their notions of war, pride, sorrow, and loss. Rusch planned the ride in honor of her father, who died in 1972 while flying a fighter jet over Laos. Rusch was 3 years old when her father died. Nguyen helped Rusch through the sometimes-dangerous terrain, carrying her own personal stories of the war. What did they face, head on, as they rode together?
About The Long Game: On The Long Game, we highlight stories of courage and conviction on and off the field. From athletes who are breaking barriers for women and girls to a Syrian refugee swimmer who overcame the odds to compete at the Paralympics, The Long Game examines the power of sport to change the world for the better. The Long Game is hosted by Olympic medalist and change agent Ibtihaj Muhammad as she guides the series around the globe to meet athletes who are fighting for change. See All Episodes
More The Long Game episodes:
Boxing Provides a Path Out of Poverty for Girls in Pakistan
A young boxer is using the sport to change her country’s gender norms.
Soccer Opens Path to Reconciliation
A Rwandan soccer player is using the sport to promote unity and tolerance among his country’s youth.
TIBU Africa Changes Lives Through Sports
A former basketball player is changing the lives of African youth through the power of sports.
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