Tears of the Olympic

Today, it was a heartbreaking moment for Liu Xiang and for millions of Olympics audiences.

A sorrowful Liu, looking pained and shocked, walked back into the undercroft of the Bird's Nest stadium passing astonished Chinese volunteers and officials before sinking to the ground in front of the giant athletics backdrop. The National Broadcaster CCTV who had been following him live then cut back to the studio anchors as if it was too painful to dwell on their fallen hero.

I feel very sad. I really don't want to quit," said Liu Xiang after he pulled out of the Olympic 110m hurdles first round because of the tendon injury to the right foot on Monday morning.

Online reaction was swift, with many comments posted on online forums. Now that Liu Xiang is out of the Games, emotions are spilling out everywhere.

"He is a dog." "He is a fake." "He is scared."

"He only went out there (to the heats) to show off his shoes (for his sponsors)," said another vicious posting.

“They can use CGI to show the Chinese viewers he actually won gold.”

“So many people here in China are gathering together just for Liu Xiang. Everyone was cheering for him just before the race started. However, after we saw that he was injured on the track, all of us were so nervous that no one could even talk and cheer. Then we heard from the TV that he gave it up because of the unbearable pain, everyone was crying, my mother, my father, my cousin and my friends around me... It's heartbreaking.”

Critical comments ran 90 per cent against a handful of supportive comments.

Liu Xiang, the defending Olympic champion of men's 110m hurdles and icon of Chinese sport, limped out of the Bird's Nest stadium after just managing a few awkward steps in his opening heat Monday morning.

Even before he got into his crouch, his painful expression and tottering steps had raised an ominous feeling. He limped out of the block at the starting gun, then pulled up when the second gun sounded to signal a false start.

His next move shocked the huge crowd at the 91,000-seat stadium into silence. No one was disqualified by the initial false start, but Liu tore the pieces of paper with his number off each leg and immediately headed for the tunnel, walking gingerly towards the tunnel, obviously being troubled by a foot injury.

An overwhelming hush and worry descended across the 91,000-seat stadium, as it dawned on the crowd that Liu's dream and that of an entire nation, had suddenly come to stop.

Liu Xiang tries to get up while warming up for the first round competition of men's 110m hurdles

Liu Xiang having some difficulties while warming up prior to the competition

Liu Xiang in agony prior to the first round competition of men's 110m hurdles

Liu Xiang grimacing with pain at the starting line during the first round competition of men's 110m hurdles


Liu Xiang at the starting line


Liu Xiang was clearly in pain as he got down in the starting blocks


Liu Xiang leaves the tracks as spectators and the photographers looked at him.



Liu Xiang leaves the tracks passing astonished Chinese volunteers and officials in the stadium


Stadium workers are reduced to tears after Liu Xiang pulls out from the race


People watch the live broadcast of the first round of men's 110m hurdles competition of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games at a restaurant in Beijing


Liu Xiang's head coach Sun Haiping breaks down in the press conference, not for Liu Xiang’s withdrawal, but for the pain he felt for Liu Xiang's foot injury

Journalists and volunteers surround the LCD television watching a press conference in the Main Press Center (MPC) in Beijing, China. On television, coach Sun breaks into tears.

Liu Xiang's appearance was one of the most anticipated events at the Olympics for the Chinese. I guess, in most Chinese hearts, even 10 more gold medals could not compensate the loss of this gold. I believe Liu Xiang will not withdraw unless the pain is unbearable. Even before the race, pain was evidently etched on his face. I was praying hard for him, as he was holding his pain, standing on the track, trying his best to start the race. Although he did not make it, he showed strength, determination and perseverance. I hope that he will fully recover from his injury. Win or lose, he will always be a man of extraordinarily strength, mentality and sportsmanship.

It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest; through adversity, the value of strength.
Little Dove