In last August, during the closing ceremony of National Special Olympic Games, many audiences were attracted by a young pianist's performance. But they might not know he was suffering from congenital mental defect. This young man is Gao Zhining.

The music he played that night was Defend the Yellow River, and he cooperated very well with the orchestra. He was just asked to prepare for his performance a month ago. People who saw him playing piano thought he was slim and tall, just like normal people.

Gao's mother became pregnant at 30. After Gao was born, his parents gradually found their child was abnormal. Doctors diagnosed him as suffering from congenital cerebral defect, which was caused by insufficient oxygen for nourishing cerebrum when he was born. Gao's cerebral cells were seriously damaged, and thus he always behaved like a three-year-old kid.

But Gao likes music. His father thought his son could do nothing except appreciating music, so he bought a piano for his son. From then on Gao started to learn how to play piano.

After Gao had learnt for a year, he participated in National Children's Acquirements Contest and won the first price. It was a huge success for him because those children who competed with him were normal.

Gao Zhining was just asked to prepare for his performance a month ago. People who saw him playing piano thought he was slim and tall, just like normal people.

Gao's performances also surprised the judges. They recommended him to perform in the French Youth Music Festival. His playing also moved French audiences. Some of them even burst into tears. They thought it's fantastic for a disabled young man to have made such achievement.

Currently Gao was enrolled by the senior high school affiliated to the Guangxi Arts Institute.

(Chinanews.cn September 30, 2006)