(August 18)

(The author, reporter for Yangtze Sports News)

A start without end…

Pain strikes us without notice.

Cheered by thousands of spectators, Liu Xiang in the red shirt appeared at the starting line of the 110m hurdles heat. The competition began and someone jumped off the gun. At the same time, we saw clearly that Liu Xiang felt great pain in his leg.

And then, to everyone's astonishment, Liu took off his identification tag and walked out of the lane.

He lowered his head, silent sadness on his face when he turned back to the track.

Liu Xiang of China warms up before the start of his 110m hurdles heat of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008. Liu failed to start his 110 metres hurdles first-round heat on Monday. After one false start Liu stopped before the first hurdle clutching his leg and then walked out of the stadium. [Agencies]

At that moment, the Bird's Nest was silent.

Everyone was asking in their heart, "Is it true?"

Yes, it's true, cruelly true. Liu Xiang dropped out of the 110m hurdles event with an injured tendon.

Surprise, pity and sadness… It seems that no words can describe our mood now. However, no one could feel the pain more than Liu Xiang.

How serious is Liu's injury?

According to his coach, Sun Haiping, in training "he could run over the first few hurdles but during the last several ones, his movement was out of shape because his heel was too sore."

It will be Liu Xiang's life pity that he lost the opportunity to defend his championship title in Beijing. However, the real hero is able to face the freezing days.

One day ago, God played a trick on the American shooter Matthew Emmons. He missed the gold at the last moment as he did at the Athens Olympics. But he smiled in failure and then said, "I must compete for another four more years. Now I think I have a reason."

Just as he said that, God closed his door to Liu Xiang in Beijing but he gave him an opportunity to show how tough he is as a real hero.

Liu Xiang, let's start over again.

http://yanxiaohua2008.blog.sohu.com/97519339.html