China's Olympic 110 metres hurdles champion and main hope for a track and field gold Liu Xiang pulled out of his race injured on Monday, devastating fans around the host nation.
Email this page
After a false start in his first-round heat, Liu, whose face adorns billboards across China, clutched his leg and walked off the track. Fans in Beijing's showcase Bird's Nest stadium looked stunned.
Xiang's departure takes the gloss off an otherwise magnificent Games for China, who are leading with 35 golds on Day Ten and look uncatchable, even by the perennial leading medal-winners United States. The US currently has 19.
Bolt wins 100m final with world record
Photograph: Getty Images
Advertisement
