Liu Xiang, the Chinese Gold-Medal hurdler who had to withdraw from the competition in Beijing due to an injured Achilles tendon had surgery to repair the injury last week and the procedure has been declared a success. Dr. Tom Clanton (above center), who operated on Houston Rockets centre Yao Ming’s injured foot earlier this year, led the surgery team. The operation started at 930pm Beijing Time on Friday, December 5 and lasted about two hours and fifty minutes at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Centre in Houston. According to Clanton, all indications are that Liu will fully recover. He will need four months in the United States post-surgery and about six months to return to the track.

Liu won the Gold Medal in the 110m hurdles at the 2004 Games in Athens.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Liu Xiang Surgery a Success

Liu Xiang of China, the 2007 world champion and 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist in the 110m hurdles event, will be having surgery to remove calcifications around his Achilles tendon in the United States, his coach announced on Friday. The 24-year-old was forced to withdraw from the 110m hurdles event in Beijing and hobbled off of the track in obvious pain. He has been in the United States for a week consulting with physicians. No date was given for the surgery, but the coach indicated the prognosis was very good.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Liu Xiang to Have Surgery in US

Liu Xiang, China’s star 110m hurdler who had to withdraw from the Beijing event due to an Achille’s heel injury, stated yesterday that he will be traveling to the United States to seek treatment for his heel. Liu Xiang has previously preferred holistic medicine and massage rather than surgery, but says that he is reviewing all options.

Liu Xiang, a world champion, won the Gold Medal in the 110m hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.

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China’s Liu Xiang to Seek Treatment in US

Arguably, China’s most revered athlete, Liu Xiang withdrew from Olympic competition this morning due to an injury to his achille’s tendon. He has also been suffering from an injured hamstring muscle for the past few months.

Liu, the favorite to win the men’s 110m hurdles, began the race, but pulled up after just a few strides. His coach, Feng Shuyoung told reporters that he couldn’t imagine the pain that Liu was suffering and that the hurdler was very depressed.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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China’s Liu Xiang Drops Out of Games

The Olympic Torch arrived in Beijing late on Tuesday and began its two-day relay around the city leading up to the lighting of the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremonies on Friday. Among the 433 torchbearers were Olympic basketball star Yao Ming (pictured above). Many guessed that Ming might be the one to light the cauldron at the ceremony, but as each torchbearer by tradition can only touch the torch once, he is now eliminated. Could it be Liu Xiang, the Chinese hurdling star?

^{(photo courtesy of the BOCCG)}

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Olympic Torch Arrives in Beijing

Among the athletes to watch in Beijing is China’s Liu Xiang. This 25-year-old is the defending Gold Medalist in the Men’s 100m Hurdle event. He is also the current indoor and outdoor world champion in this event. Xiang’s 2004 Gold Medal was the first for China in track and field. He ranked #4 in “Time” magazine’s 100 athletes to watch in Beijing.

^{(photo © Newscom)}

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Athletes to Watch: Liu Xiang

Liu broke the world record last 2006 in Luasanne, Switzerland. He clocked 12.88 seconds.

He’s currently scheduled to compete in the following 2007 competitions:

• Osaka Grand Prix – May
• Eugene Grand Prix – June
• Shanghai’s Golden Grand Prix – September

However, his top target for 2007 is winning a World Championships title in Osaka, Japan.

The 23-year old Liu is an Olympic gold medallist during the 2004 Athens Games.

Source: People’s Daily Online

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Who Broke the Men’s 110m Hurdles World Record?