Liu Xiang rocked to a song from his own CD collection before wowing the crowd - and inciting a media scramble - as he easily won the men's 110-metres hurdles at the Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground yesterday.
Karaoke-loving Liu warmed up behind the starting blocks to the sound of his own song, To Be The Winner, blaring from the PA system, and the superstar did not disappoint a capacity crowd of 3,500 to win in 13.66 seconds for his third straight East Asian Games gold medal.
Compatriot Ji Wei was a well-beaten second in 13.88, while South Korea's Park Taek-yong took bronze in 14.02, but it was Liu who the crowd wanted to see. The 26-year-old former world and Olympic champion was a relaxed figure as he waved to the crowd and agreed to a string of interview requests at the mixed zone immediately after his victory.
The 2004 Athens gold medallist then met a jam-packed news conference attended by more than 200 reporters and cameramen.
'I am very grateful the crowd supported me,' said Liu, who also won gold medals at the last two East Asian Games in Osaka (2001) and Macau (2005). 'I feel a bit tired. This race is the last for me this year. I'd prepared for it and I am pretty pleased with my performance,' he said.
'Usually the season ends in September or October, but I also competed in the Asian Championships [in November] and now the East Asian Games in December,' he said.
Liu had already set Tseung Kwan O Sports Ground ablaze in his morning heat, which he won comfortably in 14.02 seconds. Returning for the final to thunderous applause and screams from fans, Liu was never troubled in winning gold. He shot to the front at the start and never looked back, opening a huge gap between himself and his rivals before he eased down over the finish line.