As we look back on all Great American’s Environmental Division has accomplished in our first 10 years, here’s a look at some other precocious youngsters and their remarkable achievements — all before their 11th birthday.
Christian Friedrich Heinecken, the legendary child prodigy, had read the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Bible) at age 1.
Speed skater Bonnie Blair began skating at age 2. She would go on to win five Olympic gold medals.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart taught himself to play the harpsichord at age 3. He wrote his first symphony at age 8.
Brazilian Formula One race car driver Ayrton Senna da Silva began driving at age 4.
Yo-Yo Ma, world-famous cellist, began playing “Suites for Unaccompanied Cello” before bed each evening at age 5.
Willie Hoppe, the greatest billiards player in history, began to play pool at age 6. He had to stand on a box to reach the table.
Wayne Gretzky was already a hockey prodigy by age 6.
English philosopher and economist John Stuart Mill had mastered Greek at age 7.
Three-time Olympic gold medal runner Wilma Rudolph took her first step at age 8 after suffering from polio as a child.
Daisy Ashford wrote her bestselling novel, “The Young Visiters” at age 9. It sold over 200,000 copies.
Jordan Romero started his quest for the “Seven Summits” in 2006 by climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro at the age of 9.
Vinay Bhat became the youngest chess master in the world at age 10.
Tatum O’Neal won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award (Oscar) in 1973 at age 10, the youngest person to win a regular Oscar. Shirley Temple was awarded a special Oscar at age 7.