Full coverage: 2016 Rio Olympics

In addition to a gold medal, 21-year-old Chinese volleyball player Zhu Ting has been crowned the most valuable player in the sport at the Rio Olympics. Zhu says she couldn't have done it without support from her family, who live in a disadvantaged village in central China's Henan Province.

This was the scene as the gold medal volleyball game in Rio played out between China and Serbia. Friends and family at the home of star player Zhu Ting gathered to watch their home girl make some history on the other side of the ocean. And when the moment came, the house exploded with screams and excitement.

Zhu earned the title of most valuable player after the final. She carried the team on her back, scoring a remarkable 33 points in the game against Holland in the semi-final and 25 in the match against Serbia. Fans gave her the nickname "Little Hammer."

China's Zhu Ting (C) and her teammates celebrate after the women's gold medal match of Volleyball against Serbia at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Aug. 20, 2016. China won the gold medal. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Zhu's fellow villager said, "I like Zhu Ting very much. I love to see her spiking. Very, very powerful."

"She's a girl who doesn't speak much, but she's competitive and doesn't give up," said another fellow villager.

Zhu's father said he allowed his daughter to chase her dream.

He said, "She told me that she knew that because she was born in a village, she would have to do farm work her whole life and give up playing volleyball. But I let her go because I believe that she has the talent."

All these awards have proven that her father did make the right decision.

Zhu credits her success in part to a commitment by the Chinese government to pay for the training of athletes, encouraging players from families like Zhu's, to pursue their Olympic dreams.