China

Liu: 12.88 sec is not my destination

(Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-07-12 23:12

"I looked back at others as I was near the finish line, or I might have run even faster," Liu Xiang told about the "pity" after he passed the doping test in Lausanne, Switzerland, where he updated the 110 meters hurdles world record to 12.88 seconds, burying the 13-year-old 12.91 records he shared with Britain's Colin Jackson.

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]

However, just a four days ago, the 23-year-old Athens gold medalist hurdler finished only fourth in a time of 13.19 seconds at the Paris Golden League. Liu denied the reason of conserving strength and explained that it is because he didn't stay comfortably in Paris.

"Actually, both win and defeat are normal in sports competitions. As we knew in this World Cup, soccer prowess like Brazil and England got out early. It is normal," Liu cited the just-closing 2006 Germany World Cup as example.

Liu's early-coming new world record will be a great impetus to China's chance at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. But news media and the public worry that it may be pressure for the young promising man.

But the young hurdler dispelled the worry by saying that he felt good before each competition. "My job is to do my best in each competition with nothing bearing on mind," he said.

The new world record owner voiced confidence in his future completions and said he would have run within 12.85 seconds if he had done better during a news conference after the game in Lausanne.

12.85 seconds - that has been reputed as Liu's next record.