Beijing again as Liu limps out of 2012 Olympics
Source: Agencies |
August 8, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
LIU Xiang hopped along the outside of the backstretch on his left leg, his injured right leg tucked behind him, then made his way over to the 10th and final hurdle to give it a kiss.
Eventually, his 110-meter hurdles heat long over, the former world-record holder and 2004 Olympic champion from China hopped across the finish line, out of the Summer Games without clearing a single barrier for the second time in a row.
Liu stumbled into the first hurdle yesterday, fell to the track and stayed down for a few moments, clutching his lower right leg.
His coach had already expressed concern that Liu was less than fully fit, but he had still been expected to challenge for gold in London.
Liu had his right Achilles protected with yellow tape when he came into the stadium. While other runners flew over hurdles for practice, he jogged up to the first hurdle and raised his eyebrows.
He produced a wan smile when the stadium speakers announced his name to the cheering crowd. He was talking to himself as he started to settle in the blocks.
Tumbled over
Then from the starting gun, it all went wrong for one of the biggest stars in the sport. With his lead leg, he crashed into the first hurdle and tumbled over. He looked up and held his right leg, realizing history had just repeated itself.
The head of China's track team, Feng Shuyong, said at a news conference later that an initial diagnosis from the medical staff was that Liu had ruptured his Achilles tendon.
When Liu - who left the stadium without speaking to reporters - picked himself up off the track, he tried to head to the nearest exit but was pointed back to the race area. So he managed to make his way the length of the race route the only way he could, using his one good leg.
When that slow, awkward trek was complete, another hurdler, Balazs Baji of Hungary, went over and raised Liu's hand in the air, as if to signify he was the winner.
"I respect him. I like him," said Baji, fifth in their heat. "It must be really bad for him. I'm really sorry. I didn't say anything. I just couldn't say anything."
Waiting wheelchair
Other competitors went over to offer handshakes of condolences, before Britain's Andrew Turner and Spain's Jackson Quinonez helped Liu into a waiting wheelchair so he could be taken away from the track.
"I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," said Turner, who won the heat in 13.42 seconds. "I rate him as one of the best hurdlers we've had in the world ever. I don't like to see that kind of thing."
Four years ago in Beijing, Liu's Olympics ended after two full strides, when he withdrew from his preliminary heat with right foot and hamstring injuries.
At the 2004 Athens Games, Liu became the first man from China to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field.
He backed that up with the 2007 world title, only increasing expectations for another triumph on home soil at Beijing in 2008.
He was - and still is - China's only track and field superstar, a man whose legs were insured for more than US$10 million.
But he's been more than that. He is one of China's most recognizable faces, endorsing shoes and cars and all manner of other products.
But in front of a packed Bird's Nest stadium, he never even made it to the first hurdle.
Since winning his Olympic title eight years ago, Liu has not successfully cleared a single Summer Games hurdle.
Liu's rivalry with current world-record holder and 2008 Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba was supposed to be a highlight of the London track schedule.
Robles advanced easily yesterday, winning his heat in 13.33 seconds.
What will be remembered, of course, is Liu's exit.
"It was just terrible for that to happen to one of the best hurdlers of all time. It was just a tragedy. I hope he's OK," said US hurdler Aries Merritt, who won his heat in 13.07 seconds.
"In the hurdles, if you hit a hurdle, to recover is almost impossible. Everyone here is so great - this is the Olympic Games. Everyone here is to compete. It's just a shame that it had to happen to Liu."
Eventually, his 110-meter hurdles heat long over, the former world-record holder and 2004 Olympic champion from China hopped across the finish line, out of the Summer Games without clearing a single barrier for the second time in a row.
Liu stumbled into the first hurdle yesterday, fell to the track and stayed down for a few moments, clutching his lower right leg.
His coach had already expressed concern that Liu was less than fully fit, but he had still been expected to challenge for gold in London.
Liu had his right Achilles protected with yellow tape when he came into the stadium. While other runners flew over hurdles for practice, he jogged up to the first hurdle and raised his eyebrows.
He produced a wan smile when the stadium speakers announced his name to the cheering crowd. He was talking to himself as he started to settle in the blocks.
Tumbled over
Then from the starting gun, it all went wrong for one of the biggest stars in the sport. With his lead leg, he crashed into the first hurdle and tumbled over. He looked up and held his right leg, realizing history had just repeated itself.
The head of China's track team, Feng Shuyong, said at a news conference later that an initial diagnosis from the medical staff was that Liu had ruptured his Achilles tendon.
When Liu - who left the stadium without speaking to reporters - picked himself up off the track, he tried to head to the nearest exit but was pointed back to the race area. So he managed to make his way the length of the race route the only way he could, using his one good leg.
When that slow, awkward trek was complete, another hurdler, Balazs Baji of Hungary, went over and raised Liu's hand in the air, as if to signify he was the winner.
"I respect him. I like him," said Baji, fifth in their heat. "It must be really bad for him. I'm really sorry. I didn't say anything. I just couldn't say anything."
Waiting wheelchair
Other competitors went over to offer handshakes of condolences, before Britain's Andrew Turner and Spain's Jackson Quinonez helped Liu into a waiting wheelchair so he could be taken away from the track.
"I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy," said Turner, who won the heat in 13.42 seconds. "I rate him as one of the best hurdlers we've had in the world ever. I don't like to see that kind of thing."
Four years ago in Beijing, Liu's Olympics ended after two full strides, when he withdrew from his preliminary heat with right foot and hamstring injuries.
At the 2004 Athens Games, Liu became the first man from China to win an Olympic gold medal in track and field.
He backed that up with the 2007 world title, only increasing expectations for another triumph on home soil at Beijing in 2008.
He was - and still is - China's only track and field superstar, a man whose legs were insured for more than US$10 million.
But he's been more than that. He is one of China's most recognizable faces, endorsing shoes and cars and all manner of other products.
But in front of a packed Bird's Nest stadium, he never even made it to the first hurdle.
Since winning his Olympic title eight years ago, Liu has not successfully cleared a single Summer Games hurdle.
Liu's rivalry with current world-record holder and 2008 Olympic champion Dayron Robles of Cuba was supposed to be a highlight of the London track schedule.
Robles advanced easily yesterday, winning his heat in 13.33 seconds.
What will be remembered, of course, is Liu's exit.
"It was just terrible for that to happen to one of the best hurdlers of all time. It was just a tragedy. I hope he's OK," said US hurdler Aries Merritt, who won his heat in 13.07 seconds.
"In the hurdles, if you hit a hurdle, to recover is almost impossible. Everyone here is so great - this is the Olympic Games. Everyone here is to compete. It's just a shame that it had to happen to Liu."
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