Liu announces retirement
Former Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion Liu Xiang, one of China’s most celebrated sportsmen, has announced his retirement.
The 31-year-old became the first Chinese man to win an Olympic gold in athletics in Athens in 2004 and also won world indoor and outdoor titles.
He also ran a then world record 12.88 seconds in 2006, having equalled Colin Jackson’s long-standing mark of 12.91secs in the 2004 final.
He has been plagued by Achilles problems since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where, carrying the hopes of a nation, he was forced to walk off the track injured ahead of his first-round heat.
Writing on his blog, Liu said: “Starting today, I will end my professional sporting career and officially retire.
“Although sad, although painful, I had no choice.”
Liu had surgery on his Achilles after injury struck again as he crashed out in his heat at the London Olympics.
He said his foot could “no longer withstand the high intensity of training and competition”.
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