And lets quickly look at Zhu's rise to stardom -- as she helped her country break a 12-year gold medal drought in women's volleyball.

Olympic gold medalist Zhu to play for club side Vakifbank Istanbul

Chinese outside hitter Zhu Ting left Beijing last week, bound for her new squad in the Turkish Women's Volleyball League. The 21-year-old has developed into a potent offensive weapon for the PRC, but now wants to take her swings against some of the top sides in Europe. And after training under national team coach Lang Ping for nearly four years, she is expected to excel with her new club.

Zhu helped China win its first Olympic gold in a dozen years at last month's Rio Summer Games, accounting for 179 points in the PRC's eight matches to emerge as the tournament's leading scorer, and Most Valuable Player. That honor continues the steady progression that saw her claim MVP laurels at both the FIVB World Cup and AVC Women's Championship in 2015. Vakifbank Istanbul were clearly impressed, as management quickly made the requisite arrangements with sports authorities in Beijing, to secure her services for the TWVL titleholders.

Vakifbank have become one of the top women's profesional volleyball sides in recent years, earning three of the last four Turkish League trophies, and nine all-time. The squad's current roster includes top internationals like Serbian middle blocker Milena Rasic, and US outside hitter Kimberly Hill, and Zhu's arrival should only add to their star power.