Hurdler Xie believes there is life after Liu
Source: AFP |
May 18, 2013, Saturday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
CHINA can produce another Liu Xiang if the former Olympic 110-meter hurdles champion retires, according to another Chinese athlete who hopes to follow in the superstar's footsteps.
Liu, China's first Olympic track and field gold medalist, became a national hero with his victory at Athens 2004 but caused heartbreak in Beijing four years later when he pulled out of the final with a right Achilles injury.
Another dramatic exit with a similar problem followed at London 2012 and his Achilles troubles mean he will miss the entire 2013 season, leading some media reports to question whether he will ever return.
Now many Chinese fans are pinning their hopes on Xie Wenjun, who came third in the 60-meter hurdles at February's Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham.
"China has a lot of top athletes, especially in the men's 110 hurdles," the 22-year-old told reporters yesterday, on the eve of the Shanghai Diamond League meeting, in response to questions about Liu's future.
"Liu Xiang is not here, and we all hope he returns, but he is not the only one. I hope that tomorrow Chinese athletes show the world that we are also talented and can achieve very good results."
Reigning Olympic champion Aries Merritt and silver medalist Jason Richardson go head-to-head in the 110 hurdles again, one of the most hotly anticipated events of the Shanghai meeting.
Merritt said he expected that if Liu chose to return he would come back "in tip-top form", as he did when beat both the London 2012 top two with a stunning performance at last year's Shanghai Diamond meeting.
But the world record holder expected new stars to come through in Liu's absence if the Shanghai native decided to call it a day, saying: "I think the hurdling game will continue to thrive."
American compatriot Richardson added: "This event has been taken to another level, another place, another time, so there is always going to be another hurdler that emerges."
Merritt is one of seven current Olympic champions in Shanghai, where British long jump gold medalist Greg Rutherford is also competing against champions from Athens and Beijing - as well as the silver medalist from London.
Liu, China's first Olympic track and field gold medalist, became a national hero with his victory at Athens 2004 but caused heartbreak in Beijing four years later when he pulled out of the final with a right Achilles injury.
Another dramatic exit with a similar problem followed at London 2012 and his Achilles troubles mean he will miss the entire 2013 season, leading some media reports to question whether he will ever return.
Now many Chinese fans are pinning their hopes on Xie Wenjun, who came third in the 60-meter hurdles at February's Athletics Grand Prix in Birmingham.
"China has a lot of top athletes, especially in the men's 110 hurdles," the 22-year-old told reporters yesterday, on the eve of the Shanghai Diamond League meeting, in response to questions about Liu's future.
"Liu Xiang is not here, and we all hope he returns, but he is not the only one. I hope that tomorrow Chinese athletes show the world that we are also talented and can achieve very good results."
Reigning Olympic champion Aries Merritt and silver medalist Jason Richardson go head-to-head in the 110 hurdles again, one of the most hotly anticipated events of the Shanghai meeting.
Merritt said he expected that if Liu chose to return he would come back "in tip-top form", as he did when beat both the London 2012 top two with a stunning performance at last year's Shanghai Diamond meeting.
But the world record holder expected new stars to come through in Liu's absence if the Shanghai native decided to call it a day, saying: "I think the hurdling game will continue to thrive."
American compatriot Richardson added: "This event has been taken to another level, another place, another time, so there is always going to be another hurdler that emerges."
Merritt is one of seven current Olympic champions in Shanghai, where British long jump gold medalist Greg Rutherford is also competing against champions from Athens and Beijing - as well as the silver medalist from London.
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