Liu quits because he can't run, says coach
18/8/2008 18:12
Chinese athletics head coach Feng Shuyong said today that Liu Xiang pulled
out of the Olympic 110m hurdles race because his injury was too serious.
"If
his injury hadn't been so serious, he would never, ever have quit the race,"
said Feng at the press conference, held after the exacerbated tendon injury
forced the defending champion out this morning.
Asked about whether Liu had
planned to drop out, Feng said, "During the four years after the Athens
Olympics, his main goal was a Beijing gold, and he has done great work for
it.
"Today's result is not perfect, especially for Liu Xiang. There is great
expectation, and a great pressure from all. For the past four years, Liu has
been a strong athlete who never drops out of competition easily.
"Liu has
tried his best to keep himself in form, but the injury just worsened this
morning. Three doctors were on hand to treat him. No matter what we tried, it
turned out to be useless because the injury is on the heel, which takes the most
force of running."
Liu's mentor Sun Haiping said he could feel the pain of
Liu Xiang.
"Whenever he stood up or sat down, the pain was unbearable," said
Sun, who broke down with tears at the press conference.
The emotional Sun
could not help sobbing for a few minutes before hundreds of reporters. Feng then
asked reporters not to ask "sentimental" questions.
"He had taken effective
measures and till last Saturday he was in great shape," said Feng. "Last
Saturday in training the injury intensified. After experts and doctors looked at
it, the injury eased and he was confident. This morning while exercising in the
warm-up area he felt the pain got worse."
Feng explained why the injury was
not revealed before the competition.
"We did not realize it was so
serious...We did not want to tell people he could not run because we did not
know at the time," said Feng.
Xinhua
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