As Zhang Mengxue finished her last round of shooting at the Rio Olympic Games, her family in Jinan, Shandong province burst out in cheers and laughter, and even a few tears on the part of Zhang's parents.

The Chinese delegation won its first gold medal in Rio on Aug. 7, all thanks to 25-year-old Zhang, for whom the Rio Games are her first Olympics. Zhang did not immediately realize that she had won the first gold medal for the Chinese delagation, but her family immediately began celebrating after they watched her perform via a live broadcast.

Reflecting on the significance of this gold medal, Zhang's father, Zhang Jiesheng, and the coach of her provincial team, Shi Zhen, embraced each other and cried tears of pride.

Zhang is the first professional athlete in her family. She was always an excellent student; she earned the opportunity to attend a well-regarded high school, and then university. However, it was summer camp that changed her destiny.

"There was a shooting activity in the camp. It was during the activity that the sports instructor discovered [Zhang's] talent," Zhang's mother explained. After that, Zhang started training during weekends at Jinan sports school, learning how to shoot an air rifle. There she met a coach, Wang Hongli, who discovered Zhang's natural talent for the sport.

After a dispute between Zhang's middle school and sports school, Zhang finally made the decision to become a professional athlete.

"We were anxious about her living on campus at such a young age. Every day, her father rode his bike to pick her up, regardless of the weather," Zhang's mother recalled.

Zhang participated in and won second place in the 2015 Korean World Cup. She also won a spot in the Rio Olympic Games, qualifying for a competitive place on China's national team. Now she has won her highest honor yet.