The Thrill of Victory and The Agony of Defeat (Part 2 of 3)

The Mens 110 meter Hurdles at the Beijing Olympics were won by Dayron Robles of Cuba, in front of 92,000 people at “The Birds Nest”.  Great moment right?  For Robles definately, but for the billions of people watching in China…that moment was meant for their hero Liu Xiang (above).

 

In 2004, Liu Xiang shocked the world by winning the 110 meter hurdles and breaking a world record in the process at the Olympic games in Athens.  Fast forward to 2008 and Liu Xiang hadn’t lost a race in the 110 hurdles since before Athens.  He’s a celebrity, his face is literally everywhere in China, on Coke bottles, billboards for Nike, commercials, talk shows, you name it Liu Xiang is on it.  In China, he is Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Sidney Crosby, & Tiger Woods all rolled into one. 

On August 17th 2008, the ninth day of the Olympics, it was time for the MAIN EVENT! The 110 meter prelims! Thousands of fans screaming in Beijing awaiting their hero and BAM… here comes Liu Xiang…LIMPING!  He injured his achilles warming up.  Still, Liu Xiang lines up for the race slapping his achilles in pain… gets in the blocks… tries to run but pulls up lame.  Walking off the track with his head down, it felt like Liu Xiang had takin the heart out of “The Birds Nest”. 

Many fans began to cry knowing their hero… their superstar… would not compete at all in their Olympics.  The Hopes of a Nation… destroyed… not in the Finals, Semi’s, or Prelims, but before they even had a chance to get started.