Chinadaily BBS - Sports & Fans - Liu limps off to a trail of tears

Guest: Login | Register | Search | FAQ

Chinadaily BBS » » » Liu limps off to a trail of tears

Last Thread

Next Thread

voice_cd
SuperModerator
Rank: 8

UID 123465
Digest Posts 0
Credits 2026
Posts 1282
Registered 2007-1-12
Status Offline

Liu limps off to a trail of tears

Liu limps off to a trail of tears
By Bao Daozu
China Daily
Updated: 2008-08-19 07:27

A false start, a hobble and the face of China's athletics walked away from the Bird's Nest, shattering billions of people's dream.

Liu Xiang entered the track to cheers from flag-waving fans around 11:45 am. He took off his track jacket and walked to his lane. It was the last heats of the first round of the men's 110m hurdles.

Liu walked with a slight limp but stretched out his right leg, slipped into position and ran - but in pain - when there was a false start.

He then stood up and walked away in silence. The reason: injury in the Achilles tendon. He was too heartbroken to emerge in public again during the day.

There was silence and tears in the National Stadium, filled to a capacity 90,000 spectators.

The shock was all round. Disbelief, choked voices and damp eyes were the order of the moment. People who had gathered to watch the first appearance of their sports icon were numb for words.

A couple from Qingdao sat alone in the stadium, refusing to leave even an hour after Liu's race had ended. They had small Chinese national flags stuck in their hair and red hearts painted on their faces. "I can't believe it," said the woman, Cao Li. "I hope he would return soon." Volunteers ultimately persuaded the couple to leave later.

But there was hope too, especially in Vice-President Xi Jinping's telegram to the General Administration of Sport to sympathize for Liu's pullout. State leaders are worried over his injury but hope he will recover soon, Xi said, encouraging Liu and his coach Sun Haiping not to lose heart.

"We hope he will take proper rest and focus on his recovery. We hope that after he recovers, he will continue to train hard and struggle harder for national glory."

Liu said he would cooperate with doctors and try to return to the tracks as soon as possible.

Why is Liu Xiang so important? He is the first Chinese, indeed the first Asian man, to win a gold in an Olympic track event. He proved his Athens win was no flash in the pan by bettering the world record later. And he had the chance to defend his title at home.

The ace hurdler outlined his plan for the next four years after winning the gold in 2004. His was a plan with its route clearly mapped out. A gold in the 110m hurdles final at the Bird's Nest on Thursday night was his goal - and that of China's 1.3 billion people.

He may return to the London Olympics in 2012. He may regain the world record. Or, he could win the world title next year. But neither he nor anyone else can make up for Monday's loss.

Feng Shuyong, head coach of China's athletics team, however, said at a press conference: "Liu has a strong will (he can) fight till the last minute if his injury hadn't been so serious, he would never have withdrawn from the race."

Liu's coach Sun Haiping, who broke down at the press conference, explained that the hurdler suffered an injury in the Achilles' tendon more than six years ago but it worsened during training on Saturday.

"Liu's heel bone is different from others and so his Achilles' tendon is more vulnerable, but we had taken care of the pain properly before. It didn't hurt him till Saturday," Sun said.

"Liu insisted on running at the Beijing Games. Before the warming up for the race, three doctors tried their best to ease the pain but it didn't subside. Even then Liu decided to run, risking his career ."

Feng, who said he was the "best witness of the painful road Liu had undertaken", praised the hurdler for his strong mind and positive spirit. "Liu was in very good form before Saturday."

His strongest rival and current world record holder, Cuba's Dayron Robles, regretted the loss of his arch rival in the competition.

"I'm sorry for him," Robles told China Daily, "because he is a big athlete, and a big rival for everybody. He is a good man." Robles, who broke Liu's world record in June, cruised into the second round of the heats by finishing first earlier in the day.

Officials of the sports governing body, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) have expressed shock too.

"It's a huge shock. He deserves great support from all the others at this moment," Anna Legnani, IAAF deputy communications director, said.

Image Attachment: 1.jpg (2008-8-19 09:16 AM, 26.23 K)

Image Attachment: 2.jpg (2008-8-19 09:16 AM, 27.78 K)

2008-8-19 09:16 AM

emilyyyg
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 172425
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1
Posts 1
Registered 2008-8-19
Status Offline

Give Liu the best blessin.

2008-8-19 10:48 AM

rosen520
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 166002
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1
Posts 1
Registered 2008-6-2
Status Offline

i know under the national expectation liu have the big pressure,in fact don't care liu leave the statium for the injury but i have the right know the situation before.

2008-8-19 12:14 PM

allenmiao
Senior Member
Rank: 4

UID 159404
Digest Posts 0
Credits 4399
Posts 4262
Registered 2008-3-19
Location Shanghai
Status Offline

QUOTE:

Originally posted by rosen520 at 2008-8-19 12:14
i know under the national expectation liu have the big pressure,in fact don't care liu leave the statium for the injury but i have the right know the situation before.

yesterday one of my friend applied for one day leave then flied to bj for liu's race, but...so disappointed...

2008-8-19 12:41 PM

allenmiao
Senior Member
Rank: 4

UID 159404
Digest Posts 0
Credits 4399
Posts 4262
Registered 2008-3-19
Location Shanghai
Status Offline

QUOTE:

Originally posted by emilyyyg at 2008-8-19 10:48
Give Liu the best blessin.

hope him recover then come back soon,

2008-8-19 12:42 PM

camelorange
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 172428
Digest Posts 0
Credits 14
Posts 14
Registered 2008-8-19
Status Offline

Well, I respect his decision. I am just feel uncomfortable with all the ads he made showing on CCTV all the time. I mean, I saw him thousands of times everyday before he staged in Bird's Nest, IN ADS. Then, bang, he quit. It's irony.

2008-8-19 12:43 PM

tjubaozi
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 168694
Digest Posts 0
Credits 10
Posts 10
Registered 2008-7-8
Status Offline

support him

bless

2008-8-19 01:34 PM

calvinhuang
Primary Member
Rank: 2

UID 172069
Digest Posts 0
Credits 94
Posts 85
Registered 2008-8-15
Status Offline

bad news! and wish he can back soon!

2008-8-19 01:56 PM

linda624
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 170279
Digest Posts 0
Credits 6
Posts 6
Registered 2008-7-28
Status Offline

Bless Liu! he is still the hero of our nation !

2008-8-19 03:28 PM

paopao123
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 172481
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1
Posts 1
Registered 2008-8-19
Status Offline

2008-8-19 04:51 PM

#10

wangy414
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 171305
Digest Posts 0
Credits 2
Posts 2
Registered 2008-8-6
Status Offline

I hope liu xiang can come back quickly. I will still be his fans.

2008-8-19 07:39 PM

#11

jiefang
Senior Member
Rank: 4

UID 156053
Digest Posts 0
Credits 4777
Posts 3958
Registered 2008-1-25
Status Online

QUOTE:

Originally posted by wangy414 at 2008-8-19 19:39
I hope liu xiang can come back quickly. I will still be his fans.

We should understand Liuxiang, give him more blessing,after all he do his best to realize his dream.He say he will not give up his dream and do better.

2008-8-19 08:32 PM

#12

voterigger
Junior Member
Rank: 3

UID 154666
Digest Posts 0
Credits 596
Posts 579
Registered 2008-1-6
Location Helsinki
Status Offline

I think nobody should have that much pressure put on them ...

2008-8-19 08:47 PM

#13

richan
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 153302
Digest Posts 0
Credits 19
Posts 19
Registered 2007-12-17
Status Offline

I do think healthy is first.hope Liuxiang recover soon.

2008-8-19 08:59 PM

#14

kanyuek (kanyuek)
Junior Member
Rank: 3

UID 35875
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1512
Posts 1480
Registered 2004-8-20
Status Offline

The American only won three gold medals in track and field.

Hurdles is the most unpredictable game, The American women failed miserably in Track and Field.

We will train the next generation !

2008-8-20 12:45 AM

#15

kanyuek (kanyuek)
Junior Member
Rank: 3

UID 35875
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1512
Posts 1480
Registered 2004-8-20
Status Offline

Don't foeget it is Gymnastics and Diving that bring glory to motherland China !

2008-8-20 12:46 AM

#16

glaznozt
Primary Member
Rank: 2

UID 161033
Digest Posts 0
Credits 369
Posts 352
Registered 2008-4-5
Status Offline

We who Kanyuek??
We the Jamaicans? We the Trinidadians?

2008-8-20 05:24 AM

#18

sock_monkey
Primary Member
Rank: 2

UID 164279
Digest Posts 0
Credits 79
Posts 61
Registered 2008-5-13
Status Offline

It's very unfortunate that this has happened to Liu Xiang - especially during these Olympic games. I'm sure he'll be back, as strong as ever. Besides, China has many other great athletes to celebrate.

I just wish that I could have been there to comfort the crying girl...........

Image Attachment: 1219108833_WXQl.gif (2008-8-20 05:28 AM, 75.38 K)

2008-8-20 05:28 AM

#19

hky7646480
Newcomer
Rank: 1

UID 171839
Digest Posts 0
Credits 1
Posts 1
Registered 2008-8-13
Status Offline

we should support Liu

inuries for athletics is inevitable I think he do his best for this olympic games .so .all ot us should not blame .to him

2008-8-20 08:08 AM

#20

Printable Version | Email to Friend | Subscription | Favorites


Forum Rules	Feedback	Privacy