The 2004 gold medalist and world-record breaking hurdler has had a rough time of it in recent years. In 2008, on his home turf, injury forced him to withdraw from the games after a false start in a first-round heat. It was a disappointment that made his coach burst into tears – and left his nation utterly bereft.

But this time was going to be different. Liu, a superstar in his own country, was returning to the Olympics with high hopes. But shortly after the start of the men’s 110-meter hurdles, he stumbled over the first hurdle. The Achilles' tendon injury that had sabotaged him in 2004 would be his undoing a second time. As the other hurdlers flew toward the finish line, he sat on the track, looking agonized, before pulling himself up and hopping toward the exit, past the wheelchair that was offered him.

Continue Reading...