Hurdles hero Liu Xiang thrilled a hometown crowd last night with a photo finish in his much-anticipated comeback after his Olympic withdrawal, vowing he would soon bring glory home to China again.
The stadium erupted as Liu and American Terrence Trammell, the world number two, both registered a 110m hurdles time of 13.15 seconds. Trammell was placed first.
Liu, 26, exploded out of the starting blocks at the Grand Prix, racing for the first time since he limped out of the Bird's Nest Stadium last year. "His result is beyond our expectations," Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, said. "He was inspired by the crowd."
The 2004 Olympic gold medallist vowed before the race that he would soon be "ready to bring home the glory for China once again".
"Being back on the track today is a pivotal step for me. I didn't expect I could run so fast ... but once I stepped on the track I could not hold back," said Liu, who thumped his chest and collapsed on the track after the finish. "I felt like I had been infused by an enthusiastic spirit."
"I'm confident and optimistic that I will soon make a full recovery and be ready to win again. I need to be patient and not expect too much, too quickly."
Liu had an operation in the United States in December to repair his Achilles tendon and has been training in secret in Shanghai.
Meanwhile, Carmelita Jeter ran the second fastest women's 100m in history at 10.64 seconds as Russian pole vault queen Yelena Isinbayeva tried unsuccessfully to top her own record. She won the woman's pole vault but failed on a third attempt to clear 5.07m. She cleared 4.85m ahead of Poland's Anna Rogowska at 4.60m.
With her 100m time, Jeter - the bronze medallist at the world championships in Berlin last month - became the second fastest woman in history. Only compatriot, the late Florence Griffith-Joyner, who set the world record of 10.49 seconds, has run faster.
American Tyson Gay beat Jamaican former world record holder Asafa Powell in the 100m with 9.69 seconds, equalling the second fastest time ever for the distance.
Next year Shanghai will be included in the 14-meet "Diamond League", which replaces the current schedule of six Golden League meets and other Grand Prix meetings.
SCMP. Sep 21, 2009.
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10 comments:
It is glad to hear that our superstar, the hurdles hero - Liu Xiang, has participated in the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix and got the first runner-up. Though Liu Xiang is not the one who won the championship, his effort and his confidence are appreciated.
This competition is a pivotal step for Liu Xiang to warm up. From the audience perspective, it’s not crucial to know who the winner is, but to let Liu Xiang to get back the feeling on the track and field sports.
Provided that Liu Xiang didn’t get hurt and limp out of the Beijing Bird's Nest last year, it is for sure that he would win in this competition.
Liu Xiang is the proud of Chinese.
We will definitely support him and let the legend be continued.
I think Liu Xiang who is our hurdles hero is a very brave man! Every sportsman have been training since they were small, they have to spend all their time on training, their target is very clear that they can particpate in the Olympic Games. Previously, Liu has the chance to represent China to race for 110m hurdles in Olympic Games 2008 which is held by China, not only China but also the world have high expectation on Liu that he may get a considerable result in the game. But finally, due to the serious hurt, he has maken his decision which caused the fans and the people in China or all over the world feel sad and were shocked by the annoucement that he has giev up the race.
I deeply believe that Liu feel very bad, that he has prepared for such a long time, however, he may not get the race. But he didn't give up himself but push himself up to get back the court once again. After 13 months of resting and operation, Liu is Back.
Liu has done a very great job last day. He has gotten a very good result which he felt unbelievable that he could do it, before the race he has mentioned that the result is not the main theme of getting back to the court, but he just want to get the feeling of competition and also testing his foot whether it can afford or not.
In conclusion, he is the proud of Chinese, and i feel proud of him too. Hope he can continue his sport's life successfully.
I just saw him on the news awhile ago, I was shocked that he was the first runner-up. Actually I wasn't expecting him to win anything!
His determination and hard work is very admirable. Although he was injured during the Beijing Olympics, he still can train himself harder after recovery and reach for his goal! For that, I'm really proud of him.
With more support from our people and more training, it'd be a piece of cake for Liu Xiang to get back on track and hopefully win the next Olympic gold medal!
What a pity that Liu could not participate in the 2008 Beijing Olympic games.
His awesome performance, breaking the world record in his previous competitions suprised all of us.
After thirteen months of treatment and training, he stands out in the court again which really excited me, and, the result incredibly out of all expectations which suprised all of us once again.
Hope he can convalesce completely and make us, the chinese, be proud.
I'm so surprised that Liu Xiang can have a result of 13.15 seconds in his 110m hurdles race after recovery of his leg. I'm so proud of him. His coach was so appreciated to his excellent result. All the Chinese applaud Liu Xiang for his commendable, unexpected result. The possibility of getting awards again is very high. Hope he can break his own and also world record again.
6ab1 Fung Mei Yee
I had saw this hurdles competition at home ,it was shock that Liu Xiang can run as fast as we imagine .
Before the competition start ,i just think that Liu Xiang can finish this event is enough ,because he had nearly 13 months not take part in any competition .But finally he got the second runner up in this game ,at that time i also can share the happiness in front of the TV ,i am proud of Liu Xiang !
He was so cool !During that competition ,he ran extremely fast in the last 50m ,as we can knew that the start of Liu Xiang was slower than other athlete ,still he can catch up with them and got the second runner up .What amazing !
Hope Liu Xiang can keep this effort ,train up himself and break the world record in the coming Olympic game !
For anyone who has undergone such a fame in any field of competition, it is a huge pressure to achieve the same again. Think of Liu, he has become the hope of Chinese people, and he has to bear such a pressure every time he is in a tournament. The fact that he can achieve such a good result is a blessing.
Liu Xiang is a man that i dont know much about him, just only know he is good in hurdles, but was badly hurt during the race in china. Quite a number of vioces had said that Liu Xiang was afraid of his competitor, so as to quit the race by an excuses of being hurt, do you think this time he is still doing the trick?
chinese people always have the sense of "face", sometimes they cannot shoulder the pressure that gave by the audience, maybe this time, before the race, he just say he is no in really good condition but still can get a quite good result, but in conclude, he is really good at hurdles.
Can't believe Liu Xiang got the 2nd position!I thought he might not compete again when i once saw the news report on tv reporting that his legs were too painful for him to continue to run in the game.Glad that he can really get cured.
As you know the life of athlete is quite short compare to other occupations,because they easily get hurt from excess physical exercise.I wonder how many years can he keep on competing.
I always think that those athlete are like a blooming flower,it "wow"s but it will soon wilt,before u ever notice its disappearance,another pretty flower pops up.Life of athlete is very hard,therefore i appreciate his perseverance very much: )
Chan Tsz Ching 6ab1
When I heard Liu Xiang got the first runner-up, I feel surprised.
He was just a moment later than the champion. That means Liu had overcame his mantality and performed the best.
I hope he can keep this good condition and perform well in the furture. I also hope that he can break his record and be more talented.
Cheng Wing Kan 6AB1
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