The winner of the Tokyo Olympics' first gold had to put her medal around her own neck and sing her national anthem behind a mask

• Chinese shooter Yang Qian has won the first gold medal in the Tokyo Olympics.
• After her victory, she placed her medal around her own neck and sang her national anthem behind a mask.
• "I'm so happy that I could win," the 21-year-old said.

Chinese shooter Yang Qian celebrated winning the first gold medal of the Tokyo Olympics by placing her medal around her own neck and singing her national anthem from behind a mask.

The 21-year-old set an Olympic record as she emerged as the victor in the women's 10-meter air rifle competition on Saturday.

Russia's Anastasiia Galashina claimed silver, while the bronze medal went to Switzerland's Nina Christen.

Due to COVID-19 protocols, all three prize winners were handed their medals on a tray by International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach before placing them around their own necks.

Usually, a dignitary would put the medals on the winners.

-Olympics (@Olympics) July 24, 2021

With fans not allowed at the Games, only a handful of Team China's staff were on hand to congratulate Yang on her win.

Nevertheless, the shooter savored the moment.

"It's unbelievable that I can be here," she said. "I was really nervous. The competition was really tight, but I'm so happy that I could win."