Ｌｉｕ ｌｉｍｐｓ ｏｆｆ ｔｏ ａ ｔｒａｉｌ ｏｆ ｔｅａｒｓ刘翔腿伤退出比赛 众人惋惜

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A false start, a hobble (蹒跚,跛行) and the face of Chinas athletics walked away from the Birds Nest, shattering (打碎) billions of peoples dream.

Liu Xiang entered the track to cheers from flag-waving fans around 11:45 am, Aug. 19th. He took off his track jacket and walked to his lane. It was the last heats of the first round of the mens 110m hurdles.

Liu walked with a slight (轻微的) limp (跛行) but stretched out his right leg, slipped (滑倒) into position and ran—but in pain—when there was a false start.

He then stood up and walked away in silence. The reason: injury (受伤处,损害) in the Achilles tendon (跟腱). He was too heartbroken (悲伤的) to emerge (显现出来) in public again during the day.

There was silence and tears in the National Stadium, filled to a capacity 90,000 spectators (观众,旁观者).

The shock (震惊) was all round. Disbelief (不相信), choked voices and damp (潮湿的) eyes were the order of the moment. People who had gathered to watch the first appearance of their sports icon were numb for words.

Liu said he would cooperate with doctors and try to return to the tracks as soon as possible.

Why is Liu Xiang so important? He is the first Chinese, indeed the first Asian man, to win a gold in an Olympic track event. He proved his Athens win was no flash (闪现,一瞬间) in the pan by bettering the world record later. And he had the chance to defend (防护,防卫) his title at home.