Whiz Kid: Athlete and Musician Dennis Lin Coached by Gold Medalist

Each week San Marino Patch names a Whiz Kid of the Week. This can be a kid, teen, sports team, Girl Scout troop, etc. from San Marino who is amazing in some way.

We are asking for your nominations for Whiz Kid of the Week, so suggest a special San Marino kid, teen or youth group in the comment box below! Read more about nominations .

This week’s Whiz Kid is Dennis Lin. Dennis first attended and moved on to , where he is now in 8th grade. Dennis is an interesting young man with a passion for a most interesting sport: Ping Pong. He is coached by Olympic Medalist Gao Jun who is ranked number 9 in the world. Gao Jun is also the founder of GJTTC in El Monte. Dennis has a sister named Stephanie and his parents are William and Lucy Lin. William is the president of Blue Bell Inc.

•  Whiz Kid’s Name: Dennis Lin
•  Whiz Kid’s Age: 13
•  Whiz Kid’s School: Henry E. Huntington Middle School 
•  Whiz Kid’s Accomplishment: Dennis has placed 1^st in the Under 3200 Doubles Event of the Los Angeles Table Tennis Association (LATTA) Open and placed 2^nd at the Under 100 Event of the Yung Tai Hsu Open. Dennis has placed 3^rd and 4^th at countless other tournaments and events but considers his 1^st and 2^nd place awards as his most notable successes.
•  Whiz Kid’s Key to Awesomeness: Dennis first came to love table tennis while on a cruise with his family two years ago. He didn’t expect to develop such a passion but it is clear that he had an incredible innate aptitude for an unconventional sport.
  Although Dennis is a talented young man with an equally unique skill, the key to Dennis’ awesomeness is his humility; specifically, despite his success as a rising table tennis player, he constantly reminds himself that the sources of his success are from his coach, former Olympic competitor Gao Jun, and the support and inspiration provided to him from his family. Dennis is ever aware that without the guidance and teachings of his coach and the love and support of his family, he would not be where he is now.
  
  While coaching and support are fundamental components to excelling at anything--not just sports but in life--Dennis is also continually mindful that perseverance, practice, and focus all play equally essential roles in the journey to success. Coach Gao Jun herself has remarked that Dennis isn’t a “jock” in the traditional sense of the word, but an individual of intense focus whose road to success is his ability to center on his goal and charge ahead.  During summer break, Dennis practices with his coach at least two hours a day and works up such a sweat in the process that his teacher, Gao Jun, has taken to calling him “Shui Niu”--or literally, water oxen.
  
  But Dennis is more than just an athlete. As a cellist, he has come to find both an appreciation and a balance between music and athletics and regardless of which he’s pursuing, dedicates and focuses the entirety of his being into both activities. Never one to be idle, Dennis’s perseverance and hard work are clearly the keys to his achievement and will serve him well as he continues to grow into adulthood.

Bonus Whiz Kid Info:

Favorite Food: Steak

Last Book read for pleasure: Twilight

If you had the power to change one thing and make the world a better place what would it be: I would dedicate my energy towards moving ping pong into the international spotlight as a globally recognized sport.