by Sportswriters Wang Meng, Shen Nan and Niu Mengtong

GUANGZHOU, Oct. 15 (Xinhua) -- At just 16 years old, Zhao Taotao stood on the women's 25-meter pistol podium at China's 15th National Games with a bronze medal around her neck. For many, her name may be new, but her composure and determination reflected maturity beyond her years.

"This result is both normal and special to me," Zhao said. "It's a kind of encouragement, something that pushes me to work even harder."

Zhao's path into shooting began close to home - her mother was also a shooter in the same event and first brought 12-year-old Zhao to the range. "My mom took me to try shooting, and I just really liked it," Zhao recalled. "But she never pressured me. She always told me to stay happy and enjoy the sport."

Her coach, Ren Jie, knows the family well. "Her mother was my junior teammate," said Ren, a 1997 National Games champion. "We're both from Baoding and used to train together. She has great love for shooting and hoped her child could also do well."

Ren said Zhao has inherited more than her mother's talent. "She's even better than her mom," Ren noted. "They look alike and both have great ability, but Zhao is more mature in her thinking. When she talks about long-term goals or life, she's thoughtful."

Ren described her student as courageous and composed under pressure. "She dares to shoot. The more she competes, the braver she gets," Ren said. "When she hesitates, I ask, 'Would a champion be afraid?' She says, 'No,' and then she goes for it."

Before this year's National Games, Zhao had never reached a senior final, with her best result previously an eighth-place finish in a national youth event.

In Wednesday's final, Zhao faced an experienced field that included three-time World Cup champion Sun Yujie. Her coach's message was simple: "Coach told me not to think too much about the results," Zhao said. "She said this was a chance to learn and gain experience. I just tried to do my movements well."

Training, Zhao said, demands patience and consistency. "Athletes all go through hard work," she reflected. "Shooting may not seem as difficult as running, but it brings its own challenges."

For Zhao, those challenges are often mental. "Sometimes I want too much to do well," she admitted. "Then I tell myself to think clearly and just do what I should do. It's mostly psychological."

When asked about her role model, Zhao's answer was immediate. "Coach Ren is my example," she said. "I've watched her competitions since I was little. She won the National Games when she was young, and I hope I can follow her path."

Earning a medal at China's most prestigious sporting event is already a major accomplishment, but Zhao's ambitions reach far beyond the domestic stage.

"My biggest dream," she said, "is to become an Olympic champion."