China's Liu Xiang (L) leaves the tracks after getting injury in the first round competition of men's 110m hurdles at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. (Xinhua/Li Ga)
BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Defending Olympic champion Liu Xiang pulled out of the men's 110m hurdles first round Monday morning at the Beijing Olympics.
In the last heat of the first round, Liu quit the race after a false start of Dutchman Marcel van der Westen. He limped off the track, obviously being troubled by a foot injury.
Liu's coach Sun Haiping said in a post-race press conference, "His right heel injury has been a long problem since six years ago, even before the Athens Olympics."
"On Aug. 16, we arrived at the Olympic village, medical experts analyzed Liu's injury and specified there was a problem on Liu's Achilles's tendon," Sun said.
World record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba earlier breezed through to the next round, clocking 13.39 seconds.
He said, "I'm perfect today, and the track is good for breaking world record."
Without Liu and Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell of the United States, who fell down to the track in heat five, Robles will be almost unbeatable in the finals.
Liu's teammates Shi Dongpeng and Ji Wei were also qualified for the next round.
对于东道主而言,今天开始的110米栏比赛将是一道“饕餮大餐”,13亿中国人将期待他们的“飞人”刘翔能够在“鸟巢”创造一个超越雅典的神话。
可是,意外却发生了。
因为伤情难继,刘翔在今天赛前不得不作出一个几乎所有人都不会相信的决定——正式退出北京奥运会110米栏的比赛!
人生最大的痛苦,绝不在于你有足够的实力,而在于当属于你的舞台拉开帷幕时,你却遭遇横空打击,痛失一展风采的机会。
刘翔正在遭遇这样的煎熬与痛楚!
也许对于刘翔而言,失去在北京奥运会争夺桂冠的机会,将意味着他错失了人生最为重要的一次的华丽演出。可是刘翔伤了,而且伤的不轻,伤的不是时候。
人生总有无奈时,万千宠爱于一身的刘翔也不例外。
其实,一切早有预兆。从美国回来,刘翔就一直进入调整状态。虽然刘翔的右大腿和后侧伤势好了很多,可他的老伤——右脚后跟又痛了起来。此前,有知情人士透露,刘翔最近一次队内测试赛中跑出了12秒98。当然,这是一个不错的成绩,但对于家门前的奥运会而言,刘翔还将承受巨大的压力,况且,他的伤是老伤,你无法保证它会不会在关键时候制造麻烦。特别是对于110米栏这个项目而言,受到诸如上栏、过栏、栏间跑等技术因素的影响,稍微的伤情都可能影响正常的发挥
相信刘翔作出这样的决定绝不是临战畏阵,而是实在不得已而为之。
一名运动员因伤而退出比赛,已是莫大的沮丧,而这样的情况发生在家门口的奥运赛场上,此刻刘翔的痛苦恐怕难以用言辞可以表述。我们实在不想把刘翔当作一位悲情英雄,那位快乐的邻家男孩用他的速度与激情给我们带来那么多的骄傲与荣光。
事实终究无法更改,当我们的期望变为失望时,我们绝不该选择谩骂或者抱怨,而是更应该体谅一下刘翔此刻的心境,把温馨的真情送给他,慰籍他的痛苦与不安,鼓励他鼓起信心,迎接明天一个新鲜的太阳。
当射击运动员杜丽错失北京奥运会首金后,我们没有一丝错怪杜丽之意。相反,因为我们的真情安慰和宽容以待,让杜丽走出泥沼,在数天后的比赛中勇夺金牌。对于刘翔的退出比赛,我们是不是也该如此?