Athletics: Liu Xiang of China will pass more obstacles – The World

Le Monde | 04/07/2015 at 12:40 • Updated 04/07/2015 at 1:06 p.m. | By Anthony Hernandez

precocity, titles galore, world records and serious injuries … The career of Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang is a compendium of emotions. But at 31, the only male Olympic champion of the Empire of athletics mid decided to officially announce his retirement, which was nothing more than open secret as his last three years have been difficult.

A true idol in China after his Olympic victory in Athens in 2004, together with a fantastic time equal to the then world record held by Britain’s Colin Jackson (12 s 91), the native of Shanghai arrives in position ultrafavori of home, and especially with an Achilles tendon that is hanging by a thread at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008. “When he entered the Olympic Stadium to compete in the 110 series hurdles, its tendon already had half dropped. They had put under corticosteroid injections. It is obvious that this could not happen. You realize how far its frame was ready to go? “, says Renaud Longuèvre, former coach of French hurdler Ladji Doucouré rival for a few years the Chinese.

Achilles tendon half broken

The French coach, who has good relations with his Chinese counterpart, is also applied right after the incident, which saw Liu Xiang leaving the famous “Bird’s Nest” without even being able to contribute, to the amazement of thousands fans. “They asked several medical opinions, and I put them in contact with Professor Saillant, who had tested Liu Club France. He confirmed pre-rupture of the Achilles tendon “, says Renaud Longuèvre.

After thirteen long months of absence, he returned to competition in 2010 but returned to the level that ‘in 2011. Hampered by the Cuban Robles, he won the silver medal in Daegu World Championships. In 2012, he also finished second in the World Indoor behind American Merritt and before the French Martinot-Lagarde. In June in Eugene (USA), he even equal the world record held by Robles 12 s 87. His performance is not approved because of a too favorable wind.

So the whole world is waiting for him to take his revenge at the last London Olympics, Liu suffered a new injury to the Achilles tendon in series in the 110m hurdles. He finished the race on one foot and leaves the same way to the stadium. The Chinese athlete wins the nickname “cursed the Olympics.” Renaud Longuèvre has a different view: “This is the classic wear the 110m hurdles, a real game massacre. When you are Olympic champion, world champion, world record, we can not say that you missed your career … “

In fact, if Liu n has raced since 2012, even before reaching thirty years, he more than compensates by having the results obtained from its early years. “In 2000, he finished 4 ^th Junior World Championships as he is a cadet. It was found that the Chinese, not renowned for the quality of their athletics, had a young very strong and talented hurdler “, recalls the French coach. In 2002, at age 19, he captured the world junior record in the 110m hurdles (13 s 12), made with hedges 1.06 m. A record that still stands since the other junior record (12 s 99), held since last year by the French Wilhem Belocian was spent on hedges of 0.99 m.

A smaller deceleration

In 2003, at the World Championships in Paris, he mounts his first podium with a third place. “Liu has always been a small step ahead of Ladji Doucouré. In 2004, in the Olympic final, he took a better start and no one catches so that Ladji tape tenth hedge and sees his hopes soar “, says Renaud Longuèvre. At only 21, Liu becomes an idol in his country.

In a joint internship Insep, Ladji Doucouré and coach find driving Liu Xiang, based on the elasticity and flexibility, more than on strength training. “Liu was a great technician, who finished strong shopping. He had the ability to decelerate considerably less than his opponents after the 7 ^th hedge. This resistance was related to the frequency qualté crossing “, analyzes the tricolor coach.

While China welcomes in August’s world championships, hopes medal China seems meager. “The Chinese athletics suffers from lack of competition, that’s why the best athletes trying to go abroad, such as pole vaulters in France with Damien Inocencio (former coach Lavillenie) . The Chinese are struggling to boost things from within “ says Renaud Longuèvre. The successor of Liu Xiang is not yet designated

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