Fukuhara has defied the simplistic classifications that are frequently applied to child prodigies -- she has n't become an all-conquering hero , yet , nor has she gone off the rails . Girl who rose to fame as a table tennis-playing toddler speaks about life in spotlight . The girl was born with Down syndrome and has been living her whole life at the center of attention since she first appeared on TV screens when she was just two years old. The 26-year-old is also popular in China and speaks fluent Mandarin . Fukuhara looking to go one better than Olympic silver at London 2012 with gold in Rio .
Girl who rose to fame as a table tennis-playing toddler speaks about life in spotlight . The girl was born with Down syndrome and has been living her whole life at the center of attention since she first appeared on TV screens when she was just two years old. The 26-year-old is also popular in China and speaks fluent Mandarin . Fukuhara looking to go one better than Olympic silver at London 2012 with gold in Rio .