Chinese celebrate first men's win at world athletics championship

By Andreas Landwehr Sep 1, 2007, 10:11 GMT

Beijing - China went into a frenzy when 110-metre hurdles star Liu Xiang finally delivered the world title eluding him on Friday.

'Look, this is called speed,' read the Beijing News' headline Saturday about the 'grand slam' for the world record holder and Olympic champion.

'Liu Xiang gave a near flawless display of high hurdling,' the Shanghai Daily wrote.

Liu got the first world title for the Chinese men in the sport with 12.95 seconds Friday at the world championships in Osaka, Japan, beating US rival Terrence Trammell, who finished in 12.99 seconds.

Coach Sun Haiping said before the race that he had never been more confident before a world championship, describing Liu Xiang's form at '80 percent of his best.' One day before his historic run the Chinese athlete himself felt 'nearly perfect.'

But the biggest hurdle for Liu Xiang was his own mind and maybe the high expectations of 1.3 billion fellow countrymen that were wearing heavily on his shoulders.

'My opponent is myself,' he said.

The Chinese were glued to their television screens and celebrated Liu Xiang enthusiastically.

'I watched the competition. I was really moved,' one internet user said in a forum online. 'All the nation was applauding this young guy: Come on! Liu Xiang!'

Some even spoke of a mysterious 'Shanghainese' strength that propelled Liu Xiang to victory - just like Chinese basketball star Yao Ming who made it to the NBA, or high jumper and three-time world record breaker Zhu Jianhua, who are all from Shanghai.

'Shanghai men are great,' one comment said. 'From Zhu Jianhua to Yao Ming to Liu Xiang, it is Shanghai men who champion the honour of Chinese men.'

Though Yao Ming is a good basketball player, he never won a medal for China, meaning Liu Xiang should be the final torch bearer in the opening ceremony of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, one comment suggested.

'Liu Xiang is the pride of China.'

Liu, who had signed quite a few lucrative advertisement contracts long before his gold in Osaka, is admired not only for his modest appearance, but his good looks as well.

The runner himself was not too confident ahead of the race in Osaka.

'I did not think I could get the gold medal before the competition,' Liu Xiang said in an interview with Chinese state television CCTV.

He also thought he could have done better.

'I did not perform really well today. My leg touched the hurdles. If not, I think I might have run it in 12.90. But anyway, I won today. That's most important,' he said.

His challengers did not bother him too much - instead it was a battle within himself.

'I always try to compete with myself. I think I am the only one in the world who can defeat Liu Xiang.'

Now the pressure is on the new world champion to show his best at the Olympics in Beijing.

'We hope you can break the world record in 2008,' said one internet user, raising the hurdle above defending the Olympic title.

But what about his own expectations for 2008?

'For me, I feel really honoured to compete in my own country in the Olympics,' Liu told CCTV. 'I will prepare for the Games one step at a time.'