记2004年11月9日Sultanov成为美国公民的一刻 （报导写于11月10日）

Partially paralyzed Van Cliburn winner earns U.S. citizenship

10 November 2004 08:26 (c) 2004. The Associated Press.

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) - Even while growing up in what was then the Soviet Union, Alexei Sultanov wanted to be an American.

The dream stayed with him as he worked through childhood to develop dazzling talents at the piano. A musical career blossomed with excellent results and he won the gold medal at the 1989 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in Fort Worth.

That brought classical stardom and Sultanov decided to make Fort Worth his home. He and wife, Dace, planned to become U.S. citizens in 2001. But that year, after a head injury, a stroke cost Sultanov the use of his left side.

Nevertheless, Sultanov vowed to his wife to become an American and play "America the Beautiful" on the piano at his naturalization ceremony.

Tuesday, the 35-year-old Uzbek realized his dream as one of 594 people naturalized at a ceremony at the Fort Worth Convention Center. Sultanov, buckled into his wheelchair and with his wife playing the left hand, played "America the Beautiful" at the ceremony, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported in its Wednesday editions.

Sultanov continues his rehabilitation efforts to regain more control of his left side, and he and his wife have begun performing together in doctors' offices and nursing homes.

"We play anywhere so we can make people as happy as we are," Mrs. Sultanov told the newspaper.