(YANG LEI)

Huang Xuechen, a Chinese water ballet swimmer, won a record-setting silver medal in the technical solo finals of synchronized swimming event at the 14th FINA World Championships in Shanghai on July 17.

Huang's silver medal is the first won by a Chinese synchronized swimmer.

"It's China's first solo silver medal at the world championships. She made history. It really encouraged us. Her dazzling performance gave the whole team a huge confidence boost for next year's bid for gold at the London Olympic Games," said Huang's personal coach Zhang Xiaolei.

Huang, 21, started training as a swimmer at the age of 6. From 2000, she started to learn synchronized swimming in Shanghai and entered the National Youth Team in 2005 and the National Swimming Team in 2006. She was the gold medallist for the solo synchronized swimming event at the 2006 FINA Youth World Swimming Championships.