Lang Guoren, who would ride his son to classes each morning on the wobbly handlebars of an ancient bicycle, distinguished himself as the loudest of stage parents.

NEWYORKER: The Olympian

As a child Lang Lang's father pushed him hard to succeed, projecting his own dreams onto his only son -- a product of China's One Child Policy.

CNN: Lang Lang: The most popular pianist on the planet

Lang Guoren would wake at five and lock himself in the bathroom down the hall so that when his son woke he would not have to wait in line before washing up and beginning his day of practicing.

NEWYORKER: The Olympian