China

Liu's parents have sleepless night

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-07-12 14:09

Liu Xiang's parents said Wednesday morning that they had a sleepless night as the Olympic champion son shattered the 13-year-old men's 110m hurdles world record in Switzerland.

Liu Xiang of China celebrates setting a new world record in the men's 110-metre race at the IAAF Super Grand Prix athletics meeting in Lausanne July 11, 2006. Liu won the race in a world record time of 12.88 seconds. [Reuters]

Liu, who equaled Briton Colin Jackson's world mark of 12.91 seconds in winning China's first ever men's track Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, stormed home in 12.88 in a super grand prix meeting in Lausanne on Tuesday.

Ameircan Dominique Arnold finished second in 12.90 with compatriot Terrence Trammell third in 13.02.

"We had been waiting for my son's call whole night and the phone rang at four o'clock this morning," said the father Liu Xuegen. "American runner Allen Johnson congratulated Liu Xiang while he was in the middle of the call."

Senior Liu said Switzerland is Liu Xiang's lucky place since he broke the world youth record there in 2002.

"We were so excited that we couldn't sleep after the call," said Liu's mother Ji Fenhua.

Liu Xuegen said he didn't expect his son to return home for his July 13 birthday.

"He is too busy to come home," added senior Liu.