Olympics: Fans sympathetic and disappointed with Liu Xiang's shock exit

Tuesday 19 August 2008

SHANGHAI - China's golden boy Liu Xiang pulled out of the 110-metre hurdles on Monday, dashing the country's hopes of lifting the gold medal in the track and field event.

An injured right foot made it impossible for the track superstar to compete and his coach, Sun Haiping, could not hold back his tears when he described Liu's determination to defend his title.

A spokesperson for the Beijing Olympic Organising Committee said he thinks the Chinese people would understand the situation.

Wang Wei, executive vice-president, Beijing Games Organising Committee, said: "They will be disappointed, but I think they will understand. When somebody has an accident, you can't help it."

The 25-year-old Liu was born in 1983 in Shanghai. He became on overnight hero when he won the gold medal at the Athens Olympics four years ago.

A lot of Chinese chat sites have been sympathetic towards their hero, but some did question his ability to compete in the Games.

Liu had been training in private for weeks and his shock exit has put a dampener on China's celebrations over its best Olympics medal haul ever.

Many had planned to watch Liu Xiang compete in the finals at the Bird's Nest on Thursday, hoping their hero would repeat his gold run.

But despite his disappointing exit, there is also growing sympathy for the injured athlete. As an ardent Chinese fan succinctly puts it – Liu Xiang is human after all and not divine.