Gao Shengsheng

According to her mother, Gao,Shengsheng was an acrobat even before she learned to talk. She would turn flips and somersaults whenever anyone said "no!" At the age of 5 she began her formal gymnastics training, and soon became an award-winning gymnast who was considered to be destined for the Olympics. One afternoon, Mr. Zhao, Lizhi, director of the Shanghai Magic Troup and the New Shanghai Circus noticed the lovely little girl at her gymnastics school. He asked her to join his troupe and put her under the training of one of China's most highly sought- after coaches, Ms. Wang, YingYing. For three years Ms. Wang trained Gao,Shengsheng in private. When she was ready in 1998, Gao,Shengsheng was entered in the Third East China Acrobatic Gold Medal Competition. Because of her extraordinary skill, strength and style she won this important competition, thus making her the youngest gold medal winner in China's 2500-year-old acrobatic history. Miss Gao's featured act, "Aerial Ballet' uses a single arm handstand as a base while performing ballet moves in the air. This ethereal act requires not only strength and athletic beauty but grace and dance as well. Because she has mastered the feat of jumping from one arm to another, she is able to perform the one arm handstand for over 8 minutes, a world record time. In 2000 Miss Gao performed for the Chinese New Year's Celebration televised on China Central Television. This is something all Chinese performers strive for. In her free time Miss. Gao likes to work on the computer, listen to music and be with her friends just like any other 15 year old.