David Oliver and Terrence Trammell versus Liu Xiang

Preview

Few people really heard about David Oliver until he established himself as a hurdler to watch at the Beijing Olympics this summer by breaking the 13-second barrier over 110 meters. His time of 12.95 seconds at the Doha Super Grand Prix on May 11, 2008 was the eighth best ever run.

Terrence Trammell, a two-time Olympic silver medallist, has been past his heyday for some time, but the 30-year-old managed to make a last-minute victory by defeating Dominique Arnold at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Track Trials.

Liu Xiang, 25, has become a hero of Chinese communities all over the world, ever since he won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. But this year seems a bit tougher for him--his world record (12.88 seconds) was bettered by Dayron Robles of Cuba with 12.87 seconds at the Golden Spike meeting on June 12; Liu was absent from several tournaments because of pain in his right leg muscle. With more than 1.3 billion supporters on home soil, how to deal with huge pressure is another challenge that awaits him. "I was not and will never impose any pressure on myself. The only thing I do is to leave it for my components," said Liu on different occasions.

(Compiled from Titan Sports)

Flashback

On August 18, in the first round of the event, David Oliver finished first in heat two in 13.30 seconds. Terrence Trammell was unable to finish heat five because he suffered a moderate hamstring strain on his left leg. Liu Xiang withdrew heat six just a second before the second start with a tendon injury on his right foot.

On August 21, David Oliver took bronze in 13.18 seconds. Dayron Robles of Cuba won gold in 12.93; David Payne of the U.S. got silver in 13.17.

Words From the Heart

"I feel very sad. I really don't want to quit. I know everyone was keenly expecting me to run yesterday. I wanted, as much as you did, to cross the finish, a scene you have already got used to. But my feet…Please believe me. The sadness and pain I have been through are never less than yours. Please believe me. I am still the same old Liu Xiang you have known. I really appreciate the text messages and phones calls I received from you, my friends, after I withdrew from the race injured. From the bottom of my heart, I thank my friends who understand, support and encourage me all the way. I also thank the Chinese people for supporting me and awarding me huge honors all these years. I believe in my capability. You will see a faster Liu Xiang," Liu Xiang expresses his feelings in an open letter on August 19.