Chinese autistic children receive dolphin therapy in Sochi, Russia. [PHOTO BY REN QI/WANG YUYUN/CHINA DAILY]

Dolphin-assisted therapy is not without controversy, there being no scientific evidence of its benefits, even if it is argued that the communicative experience for the children can be of no harm, and animal welfare activists object to the way animals are forced into their role as therapists, first of all by being in captivity.

However, even if Yu's mother is aware of such objections, she talks enthusiastically of the progress she thinks Yu has made since first traveling to Sochi.

From Yu's first encounter with the dolphins she was surprised to see how her daughter enjoyed playing with them and was not only willing but keen to jump into the swimming pool to play with the dolphins.

This year Yu's performance during the therapy was much better, her mother said, and she even engaged reporters in dialogue.