"China Licks its wounds after Liu Xiang's withdrawal"

Liu Xiang, China's favorite to win the gold in this year's 110m men's hurdles, offered a formal apology after dropping out of the race preliminaries Monday morning.

"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.'"

Liu Xiang drops out of race

Liu Xiang, current world record holder for the 100m men's hurdles and national Chinese hero, dropped out of the 100m men's hurdles before the start of the first heat.  

According to an article in the Guardian, Liu did not leave the starting block when the gun sounded for the first heat. The other runners were recalled for a false start, at which point, Liu grabbed his leg and headed off the track.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/aug/18/liuxiang

Liu Xiang's 17 days of pressure

Blogs and media across China have reported on the immense pressure on Chinese athletes to perform. But of all the Chinese athletes, Liu Xiang faces the greatest pressure.

Xiang holds the current world record for the 110meter Men's hurdles and will race to retain that record in about 30 minutes.

My first introduction to the expectations placed on Liu Xiang was by one student in my high school class in Zhabei. I asked the group of students what Olympic sport they liked best. One student, Lily, literally jumped up from her seat, and with eyebrows raised yelled, "Oh! Liu Xiang!"

Watching the preliminary news coverage to Liu Xiang's race, I was struck by a newscaster who, when asked to introduce coverage of the men's rowing team, stuttered and stopped, saying she could only think of Liu Xiang's race.

"I can't imagine what's on his mind right now," Lijing Right, anchor for China Central Television International 9, said. "He bears the burden of a nation's expectations and I have to add a bit more pressure myself because I want him to win. You can't imagine how hard my heart is pounding."

Let's hope Liu's race ends well, or he have to flee the crowd of reporters in tears, like athlete air rifle athlete Du Li did after coming in fifth place. See links at the bottom of this page.