Tragic Injury for Liu Xiang: Too Much Pressure? Still the Best?

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http://www.starathletes.info
Liu Xiang is China's folk hero and superstar athlete: the Reigning Olympic Champion in the 110 Meter Hurdles and the favorite to win Gold again -- this time in Beijing before a hometown crowd of 1.3 billion people.

In 2004 in Athens, Liu captured Gold and not only equalled the time of his hero Allen Johnson, he became the first athlete of non-African descent to go under 13 seconds.

And now in Beijing, for the first time ever, China is expected to win more gold medals than any other nation, but mostly in traditional Chinese sports, such as gymnastics.
That's why China is hoping their 25-year old hero can claimcapture China's only gold medal on the track, showing Chinese can excel against all odds.

But China's hopes have become expectations. And some say anything short of gold would be a disaster.


Liu is now a millionaire endorser of everything from cars to clothes, and mobile phones to soft drinks. When he appears in public, he is mobbed by obsessive fans.
So he travels in a car with darkened windows.


China's National Team Coach says he feels sorry for Liu because "He's a young man and wants to do many things, but he can't."
Liu himself says: "Being famous is sometimes a good thing, but sometimes not. I prefer not to be famous. "
I have money now but I can't go out and shop."
Liu is seen as a role model for the way he honors his family, serves his nation and shows public modesty.
His fellow superstar friend, Yao Ming, has taught him a lot...like being modest as a way of staying calm under pressure. And viewing himself as just an average person (living day to day), trying to do his best.

Another athlete he admires for handling pressure? Michael Jordan.

Liu thinks life will be better when he retires and goes into social work.

But for now, he plans to compete through the 2012 Olympics, Until then, he will bewhile carrying the hopes of a nation on his back.

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