Gong Xiangyu, a female Chinese volleyball player, was awarded this year's National Outstanding Member of the Communist Youth League of China, according to a notice released on May 3.

The 23-year-old Gong was born in Lianyungang in Jiangsu Province, east China. She was born to a sporting family. Her mother was a national fencing champion, while her father played with the Jiangsu under-23 basketball team.

Gong plays as an opposite setter, and won an Olympic gold medal with the Chinese women's volleyball team at the age of 19 at the Rio 2016 Summer Olympic Games. Playing her position to perfection during the 2019 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Cup in Osaka, Japan, Gong's role helped the team form a second-to-none offense and defense.

She was also included in the 2019-20 Chinese women's volleyball league "Team of the Year" award.