There can be nothing but sympathy for Liu Xiang . No other Chinese athlete faced as much pressure to perform at these Olympic Games. China's only male track and field gold medallist was to run on home soil with perhaps 1 billion countrymen watching. Only replicating that victory in Athens four years ago would do, as far as the nation was concerned. Yet, as he stepped up to the blocks yesterday morning for his heat of the 110 metres hurdles, he was obviously carrying an injury - a debilitation in an event where one hundredth of a second can mean the difference between glory and the also-rans.
Liu took his position, the starter's pistol fired and because of a fellow competitor, a false start was declared. But the hurdler had already stumbled in agony, his Achilles tendon to blame. Instead of returning to the blocks, he determined that his injury was too severe to continue and he withdrew. With his departure from the track went the expectations of the nation.
Many Chinese are obviously disappointed. Spectators at the National Stadium solely to see Liu qualify immediately left. If internet chat rooms are any guide, a number of people are furious. Here was the face of the Beijing Olympics, a man seen countless times in promotional advertising effortlessly clearing hurdles, limping away from the event which he was expected to win again.
It is easy to see how some people could feel cheated. Liu had been showered with fame and wealth for his Olympic victory. He had triumphed in a fiercely competitive facet of sport, where no other Chinese had been before. His accomplishment had been inspirational and a matter of pride. He had had four years to prepare his defence of his Olympic title. Bowing out without even trying to qualify for the final on Thursday night was seemingly a betrayal.
But Liu cannot be faulted for his decision. At the level of sport at which he is competing, any injury, no matter how small, gets exposed. Fitness of body and mind is of the essence. Only the best athletes in the world make it to the Olympics and only world-class performances will win a medal. An injury can be hidden in some sports, but the 110 metres hurdles, where fractions of a second count for so much, does not allow such fitness leeway.
Nor could the athlete risk worsening his injury. To compete carrying a physical problem and crash into a hurdle would have not only been embarrassing, but could have ended his career. Liu is 25 and has a number of years of top-level competition left in him. Ignoring the pain in the name of honour was not an option.
