Liu Xiang has no more hurdles in the way

“I know this day will come, but I didn’t expect it to come so early,” said Zheng Fengrong, former world record holder in women’s high jump, referring to Liu’s performance in shattering the 13-year-old world record.

Zheng, the first Chinese to break an athletics world record when she cleared 177cm in 1957, said Liu Xiang and his coach Sun Haiping have ushered in a new future for Chinese athletics.

“The success of Sun Haiping has proven Chinese do have unique methods for training,” said Zheng. “Western methods may be advanced but might not be useful to Chinese athletes. Chinese athletics should draw upon the successes of Liu Xiang and women’s middle and long distance runners in order to achieve more successes.”

“I felt sorry that I didn’t have a chance to compete in the Olympics and I thank Liu Xiang for glorifying Chinese athletics,” Zheng was quoted as saying by Xinhua news agency. The People’s Republic of China made its Olympic debut only in 1984. Zou Zhenxian, who holds the 25-year-old Asian men’s triple jump record of 17.34m, said Liu is a genius.

“Liu Xiang is a genius runner and Sun Haiping is a genius coach,” he said. “Liu is a mentally strong and technically sound athlete and I hope he will do even better when Beijing hosts the 2008 Olympics.” Meanwhile, Liu’s parents said they had a sleepless night, waiting to hear from their son.

“We had been waiting for my son’s call whole night and the phone rang at four O’clock this morning,” said father Liu Xuegen.

Xuegen said he didn’t expect his son to return home for his birthday which falls tomorrow. “He is too busy to come home,” he said.