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Liu Xiang's departure from the GamesPosted by Eric Mu, August 19, 2008 3:24 PM
 Guangzhou Daily August 19, 2008 The surprise departure of defending Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang caused a big shock yesterday and is the dominant news item on today's front pages. Like many newspapers, Guangzhou Daily printed a front-page photo showing Liu Xiang walking off the track before the 110m hurdle race. Most papers have been kind to the fallen hero, but some of them reflect on whether excessive expectations have taken a toll on Liu Xiang, who apparently is under tremendous pressure to perform. Liu's coach wept yesterday at a press conference, and Liu himself told his supporters in a CCTV interview earlier today that he was very sorry. In the Yangtse Evening Post, sports commentator Li Chengpeng acknowledged the pressure that Liu Xiang was under to measure up to the high hopes of the people:
Today's China Youth Daily ran an article comparing Liu Xiang with Zhu Jianhua, a retired athlete who was once China's best high jumper. Under great pressure to achieve gold in the 1984 Los Angles Olympic Games, Zhu failed to meet expectations and ended up receiving a bronze, after which he exited the sports world altogether. The paper suggests that times have changed: the country no longer needs a star athlete to prove its worth to the world, so Liu's national audience is more forgiving when he disappoints. Links and Sources
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Comments on Liu Xiang's departure from the Games
His advertisements have disappeared from CCTV, as well.
Regardless of what really happened or why, Liu Xiang now has a great chance to be a hero again. He can strive for the next Olympics - and show his country what a true Olympic Champion is - one who overcomes the greatest difficulty to achieve his or her best. The Olympics is about struggle and challenge and redemption thru sport. China claims it protects the Olympic Spirit, now its hero Liu Xiang alone has the one true opportunity to show the world that China indeed understands what the Olympic spirit is. He must continue and run in London. EVen if he doesn’t win Gold, he will have become a hero again. It is his duty, it is his fate. It was and is and has always been his destiny I think. This achievement will be greater than all the Gold medals he could have won in Beijing. I am not a big fan of Liu Xiang but I am a big fan of China, and now Liu can show the world that China is truly a great country.