The Confident Boy Who Never Gave Up : Corrado McGee

A young Italian boy once heard about an Austrian circus performer who claimed he alone could hang upside down using just one finger. This bold claim sparked a fire in the boy’s heart. He promised himself that one day he would do the same trick.

That boy was Corrado McGee, born into a family of flying acrobats. His family travelled from place to place performing circus acts. However, when Corrado was still very small, tragedy struck—he got paralysis, and his left leg stopped working. His parents believed that he would never perform like the rest of the family.

But Corrado did not accept defeat. He told himself:

“If one leg doesn’t work, the other still does. And I have two good hands!”

Most children in his situation would have given up and lived sadly. But Corrado was different. He focused not on what he had lost but on what he still had. With love for his art and a strong mind, he decided he would become a circus performer, no matter what.

Corrado observed every movement at the circus carefully. He studied every trick and searched for new ways to perform using his working limbs. He treated his art like it was sacred. He believed completely in this saying:

“Even flowing water can cut through stone.”

So he practiced every single day. People laughed at him, teased him, and called him crazy. Some boys even pulled his walking stick, making him fall to the ground. But Corrado never fought back or complained. He stood up again and practiced harder. When people saw that their hurtful words could not stop him, they eventually left him alone.

Day by day, Corrado’s body grew stronger and more flexible. His arms, hips, and back moved like rubber. At age sixteen, he showed a performance to his family. Balancing on one leg, he moved gracefully for almost half an hour. His family, who once doubted him, were shocked and amazed. His father encouraged him proudly.

From that moment, Corrado began performing in public. The audience clapped and cheered for him. But sometimes, Corrado felt unsure. He wondered:

“Do they appreciate my art, or are they only amazed because I am disabled?”

This doubt pushed him to work even harder. He wanted respect for his skill—not pity.

Soon he began performing breathtaking tricks. His inferiority disappeared, and confidence replaced it. His reputation grew, and he became well known in circuses. But Corrado wanted modern performances, while his family preferred old-style work. So in 1964, he joined another circus: Circo Orfei.

There, Corrado amazed thousands with his daring acts. But life tested him again. One day his crutches caught in a carpet hole, and he fell badly—breaking his right arm. Doctors said the arm was useless and removed part of the bone. Now he had one weak leg and only one strong arm.

For a moment, Corrado felt heartbroken. But soon his courage returned. He decided he would continue performing. With effort and determination, he rebuilt his strength. Soon, he could balance his whole body on one arm—something even fully able-bodied performers could not do.

His greatest dream remained—to hang upside down using just one finger. He trained day and night. Sometimes he pushed so hard his wrist bent and broke again. Still, he never quit.

Finally, the day arrived. Corrado stunned the world by hanging his entire body upside down, supported only by one single finger. He proved the boastful Austrian artist wrong and showed the world that nothing is impossible.

Learnings

1. Focusing on what you have makes you strong and helps you use your potential in the right direction.

2. Practice and hard work are the only ways to master any art.

3. If others can do it, then you can do it too.

orignal source: Manobal ka dhani by shriram sharama acharya. It’s originally written in hindi. I just translate in modern easy language. All credit goes Shri Ram sharma Acharya