On this day: Liu Xiang wins China’s first Olympic gold medal in track and field with victory in 110m hurdles at Athens 2004
- The 21-year-old set an Olympic record and matched Colin Jackson’s world record time
- Millions tuned in back home to cheer the hurdler into the history books
On August 27, 2004, Chinese athlete Liu Xiang hurdled into history.
That was the date of his historic gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games, where he became his nation’s first gold medallist in track and field.
Even with the absence of his idol Allen Johnson – the American who had won the last four world championships and taken gold at Atlanta ’96 in what remained an Olympic record time – Liu was still not considered to be the favourite.
Johnson might have been the world No 1 ranked hurdler throughout 2004, but the rest of the field was more experienced than the 21-year-old Chinese and arguably some were in better form in Athens.
While Liu had won his heats, breezing through both in 13.27 seconds, he had been beaten by Jamaica’s Maurice Wignall in the semi-finals despite improving his finish to 13.18 seconds.