After Rasmee Kaeo announced that if the Thai women's national volleyball team won the 2026 Asian Women's Volleyball Championship and secured a spot at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, she would run 100 laps around Wat Phra Kaew.
The Thai women's volleyball team won their fourth Asian championship and clinched their first-ever ticket to the Olympics. Rasmee fulfilled her promise by starting to run laps around Wat Phra Kaew, completing 6 laps so far with 94 remaining. Recently, when meeting Rasmee, she said,
"Actually, this all started when Thailand faced Kazakhstan, probably in the round of 16. I didn't think much about it then. The mastermind, the sly one, was Nootsara Tomkom sitting next to me, who said, 'Rasmee, you need to do something like this,' since I usually don't make many vows.
Being a transgender and a sly person, I said, 'Rasmee, run 10 laps around Mono.' I thought that was too few for a transgender person. Too few, it's a loss! Someone like me should run around Wat Phra Kaew. Okay, run 10 laps. Oh, that's too little. Someone like me, I'll run 100 laps. It'll be on TV, live-streamed. Once I started, it felt like making a solemn vow. I declared it.
"Rasmee, have you checked how many kilometers one lap around Wat Phra Kaew is?" I said, 'Oh, not much. I've walked there many times.' One lap is 2 kilometers, so 200 kilometers total! I made a face and thought, 'Oh, what am I going to do?' Honestly, I thought it would be difficult since we hadn't yet faced Korea, Japan, or China, and I didn't know how far we could get. Then my coach encouraged me, saying, 'It's really tough, but you might get to run.' After beating Korea,
I wasn't too sure, but my coach said, 'Hey, you might get to run.' I was... well, Korea hadn't been faced in a while, so I was nervous. After beating Japan, I knew I would run. My legs were warming up. I thought if we beat Japan, we'd definitely beat China too because our form was strong. On the final day, we honestly won.
We really celebrated the teammates more. I was happier about our Olympic qualification. For the 100 laps, I divide the runs over about two months. So far, I've run 6 laps and will run 10 more this evening. See? 10 laps in 3 days. So, I accumulate slowly. It's like training. I take it easy to avoid injury.
But there will be no reduction, no 'Please, just 90 or 80 laps.' No exceptions, no substitutes or sharing the laps. Because truly, the Emerald Buddha is very sacred. I respect that deeply and dare not test or challenge it in any way."
How do you feel about it?
"I've been with the team for a long time. It's a great pride. For athletes, the biggest goal is the Olympics—the world's largest sports event. That's what everyone aspires to attend. Today, everyone has achieved it. I only have joy to give. For the upcoming Asian Games, the team asked for blessings, and I told them I had no blessings to offer since we've already qualified for the Olympics.
I also know we will win gold at this Asian Games because the Thai team is formidable—not to be underestimated. Our form is peaking and our techniques are coming together, making us one of Asia's strongest teams.
Therefore, winning gold at the Asian Games shouldn't be difficult. The gameplay shows this clearly, along with the athletes' strong mental state. Since qualifying for the Olympics, I've seen that the athletes feel no pressure and are competing with full happiness."
Do you plan to make another vow? A second round?
"Honestly, if I want to make another vow, I could. But I'm afraid I won't be able to attend or something might happen to me physically before then. The Olympics is the biggest event and represents the highest success for a Thai team sport."
Some comments say, 'It's over two years, so just spread the running over two years?'
"No, I don't want to. I want to finish quickly because we have the Phra Phanpee event at that location. So, I want to complete the runs before November."
Is it easier than you expected?
"Honestly, on the day of the competition, I felt that doing something with focus was special. I usually live a carefree life without many burdens. Now, running 100 laps, many might not know that before entering the industry, on days without work, I used to walk hundreds of laps at Wat Phra Kaew because it was peaceful. It was a quiet place where I could think a lot. It became like a form of meditation, but in running. I only run in the early morning and evening. The peace comes naturally."
Do people watch you?
"Yes, some do. Like I said, that area is quite restricted—whether for events or other reasons—and it's part of the palace grounds, so no loud or extravagant events are allowed. I go quietly. I thank customers who come, but I have to decline because this is a vow. After finishing, I'll accept."
So, your running is not just fulfilling a vow but also about meditation?
"Yes, I spend more time with myself, thinking about various things. My goal is 100 laps. I've planned to save the final lap for Sunday morning at around 5:30 a.m. Then, I will announce that for the 100 laps, totaling 200 kilometers, the last lap will be open for anyone who wants to join and enjoy the moment together. The exact timing is still uncertain as I am progressing gradually."
Can you speak on behalf of the teammates, since they also faced criticism, but this is true effort?
"Honestly, it’s painful to live in an era where avoiding social media is necessary. It’s hard not to feel affected, especially by harsh, threatening, or deeply disparaging comments. These wounds run deep in the heart and take time to heal. It’s not like, 'Oh, it’s nothing.' Everything takes time. We need to reflect on what we post, because even if we think no one sees it, someone always does. The athletes are aware of these things."
In reality, nothing serious happened before. I was just one person who spoke up about these issues that no one else mentioned. Once I spoke, things began to change. So, critiquing gameplay or style is fine.
But telling athletes to die or to leave the national team, these things happen when they are alone in their rooms with little support. The athletes are young and facing such harassment, which deeply affects their mental health."
You won't let this pass like before, right?
"Yes. I've spoken out and faced many attacks. My lawyer has already prepared documents for me to sign. Today, we’ll have Cookie predict who the offenders might be. The documents have been signed and sent."
Are there many offenders?
"Let’s leave that to Cookie to predict."
You mentioned severe language, hateful and discriminatory remarks?
"Yes, harassment and exaggeration. For other dissatisfaction, I accept it. I understand there are two sides. I accept the consequences. But I believe my message contained positive texts and many agreed. Some who followed just read headlines without watching my full live video and made misleading posts. My lawyer will handle that."
Our lawyer is unique in Thailand—Lawyer Prasart, not a 'demon lawyer.' We use Lawyer Prasart."
How is your mental state?
"Honestly, I have many perspectives. But that day, I smiled fully—not seeking pity but understanding that this is the result of actions and a lesson for me. The others also learned from this."
Will you accept gift baskets?
"Oh no, I don’t accept gift baskets because I’m rarely home and the housekeeper eats everything. I prefer cash donations to help with my ticket to LA to watch the Olympics. So, when I post something, you share in supporting LA, just the payment method differs."
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