LIU XIANG
Liu Xiang (simplified Chinese: 刘翔; traditional Chinese: 劉翔; pinyin: Liú Xiáng; born July 13, 1983 in Putuo, Shanghai, China) is a Chinese 110 metre hurdler.
Liu is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion. His 2004 Olympic gold medal was the first in a men's track and field event for China.
Liu is one of China's most commercially successful athletes and has emerged as a cultural icon. He is the first Chinese athlete to achieve the "triple crown" of athletics : World Record Holder, World Champion and Olympic Champion.
That he would win another gold in the 110 metre hurdles at the Beijing Olympics was "China's great hope", but he had to withdraw from competition at the last moment after a false start and aggravation to a previously unrevealed injury.
In May, he won at East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan with 13.42 seconds. In August, he won at World University Games in Beijing, China with 13.33 seconds.
In May 2004 at an IAAF race in Osaka, Japan, Liu managed to beat Johnson with a personal best record time of 13.06 seconds. Liu had become his hero's equal just before the Athens Olympic Games.
Beijing Olympics
Leading up to the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Liu bore national expectations of a repeat victory on home soil. China deemed another gold medal from Liu essential for a successful Olympics.
On August 18, Liu withdrew from the Olympic 110 metre hurdles. He walked off the track after a false start by another runner in his first-round heat, leaving the crowd at the Beijing National Stadium in stunned silence, confusion, and tears.
According to China's track and field association, Liu suffered from a recurrence of chronic inflammation in his right Achilles tendon. Liu's coach, Sun Haiping addressed the media during a press conference and stated that the hurdler had been hampered by a tendon injury for six or seven years.
He commented on the situation, saying "We worked hard every day, but the result was as you see and it is really hard to take" Sun, who was in tears for most of the press conference, stated that Liu would be unable to compete for the remainder of 2008.
Liu made a public apology to the Chinese media the following day, saying he could "do nothing but pull out of the race" because of his foot injury. He believes that the injury would not prevent him from future competitions and vows to "come back" for the next Olympics.
Liu's injury was significant and also ruled him out of the following year's major competition, the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. However, coach Sun Haiping was confident that he would return in time for the Chinese national championships and 2009 Asian Championships in Athletics in November.
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Liu is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion. His 2004 Olympic gold medal was the first in a men's track and field event for China.
Liu is one of China's most commercially successful athletes and has emerged as a cultural icon. He is the first Chinese athlete to achieve the "triple crown" of athletics : World Record Holder, World Champion and Olympic Champion.
That he would win another gold in the 110 metre hurdles at the Beijing Olympics was "China's great hope", but he had to withdraw from competition at the last moment after a false start and aggravation to a previously unrevealed injury.
In May, he won at East Asian Games in Osaka, Japan with 13.42 seconds. In August, he won at World University Games in Beijing, China with 13.33 seconds.
In May 2004 at an IAAF race in Osaka, Japan, Liu managed to beat Johnson with a personal best record time of 13.06 seconds. Liu had become his hero's equal just before the Athens Olympic Games.
Beijing Olympics
Leading up to the Summer Olympics in Beijing, China, Liu bore national expectations of a repeat victory on home soil. China deemed another gold medal from Liu essential for a successful Olympics.
On August 18, Liu withdrew from the Olympic 110 metre hurdles. He walked off the track after a false start by another runner in his first-round heat, leaving the crowd at the Beijing National Stadium in stunned silence, confusion, and tears.
According to China's track and field association, Liu suffered from a recurrence of chronic inflammation in his right Achilles tendon. Liu's coach, Sun Haiping addressed the media during a press conference and stated that the hurdler had been hampered by a tendon injury for six or seven years.
He commented on the situation, saying "We worked hard every day, but the result was as you see and it is really hard to take" Sun, who was in tears for most of the press conference, stated that Liu would be unable to compete for the remainder of 2008.
Liu made a public apology to the Chinese media the following day, saying he could "do nothing but pull out of the race" because of his foot injury. He believes that the injury would not prevent him from future competitions and vows to "come back" for the next Olympics.
Liu's injury was significant and also ruled him out of the following year's major competition, the 2009 World Championships in Athletics. However, coach Sun Haiping was confident that he would return in time for the Chinese national championships and 2009 Asian Championships in Athletics in November.
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