First gold medalist at Tokyo 2020 Olympics inspires hometown

"It is the first time that my student won a gold medal in the Olympic Games, especially as it is the first gold medal that the Chinese team has won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. I'm so proud of Yang Qian." Yu said.

"She deserved it," said Yu excitedly. "Athletes in the Olympic Games should not only have great skills but also adjust their own mood and mentality to cope with anxieties. Yang Qian has such good sportsmanship to control herself well under pressure."

Shi Anfang, Yang's mother, smiled through tears as her daughter won the competition. "She has achieved her dream. I have always been proud of my daughter. She is the pride of our family. Now she is the pride of the nation."

Talking about the expectations for her daughter, Shi said Yang should keep working hard as there is still a long way to go.

Yang study at Maoshan Primary School, a school in Jiangshan town, Yinzhou district. Zhu Xiaomei, her instructor back then, said Yang's victory would encourage both teachers and students greatly.

"As long as they work hard, they will be the top talents in their own field, like what Yang has achieved," Zhu said.