"I am so sorry to China," Liu said, broadcast live on China Central Television. "I wanted to go on but I couldn't. I know I will have another go at it. After all, I am at the top of my game."
Liu dropped out of competition before even competing in the first heat of this year's 110m hurdles. Liu currently holds the world record for the event.
CCTV 9 reported half of spectators present to watch Liu's race in the Bird's Nest left after Liu withdrew from the race.
China's strategy in this Olympics is called "Going for Gold." Throughout this Olympics, Chinese fans have treated anything less than a gold as worthless. In fact, CCTV reports China tops the medals charts because they have more golds than the US, which has the most in total medals.
However, reactions of spectators and news casters to Liu's withdrawal was shock and confusion, but not condemnation.
Officials from the Beijing Olympic Committee have called Chinese fans' reactions to Liu's withdrawal a "great leap forward in China's attitude toward sportsmanship."
"After being stripped of the role as a superhero, he is returned to his role as a human being," said Yong Rui, commentator for CCTV 9 show Dialogue. "A ancient Chinese proverb says, 'The temporary retreat will pave way for future progress.'"
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