Chinese men can jump and run
Written By
DNA Web Team
| Updated:
Prejudices do exist in sport — Americans run faster, Africans have better stamina, Asians have better reflexes, White men swim better, Black men play better bastketball.
Prejudices do exist in sport — Americans run faster, Africans have better stamina, Asians have better reflexes, White men swim better, Black men play better bastketball.
The last of these was beautifully illustrated in the movie ‘White men can’t jump,’ where a white man (Woody Harrelson) plays on people’s prejudices that white people cannot play basketball very well.
And most of the times, it takes a special talent to rise above all the hurdles. China’s hurdling superstar Liu Xiang is that special talent.
As Xiang raced to victory in the 110-meter hurdles at the Athens Olympics in a world record-tying time of 12.91 sec., the shockwave that ran through the world of athletics was almost palpable. Stunned, a Greek TV announcer stammered: “In first place, it’s ... it’s a Chinese man. He is Mr. Liu. Congratulations to Mr. Liu from China.”
Since then Liu Xiang’s superstar status in China just keeps getting stronger, but the 110m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion is showing signs of struggling with the pressure off the track.
Liu on Monday won his national championships for a sixth time in his first race since running 12.88 seconds in Switzerland last month to break Briton Colin Jackson’s 13-year-old world record.
However, despite 10,000 fans turning up to the event in Hebei province mainly because of his presence, the 23-year-old gave little indication of enjoying the moment.
“It is meaningless to compete here ... I had no choice but to come here,” the China Daily quoted the 23-year-old as saying, referring to his obligations to Chinese athletics to compete in the nation’s biggest domestic events.
“My first goal in domestic competitions is to win rather than try my best. When I am well ahead during the race I will slow down before the finishing line.”
His lack of enthusiasm for competing in China and the adoration of Chinese fans this week continues a trend that was seen almost immediately after he shot to fame with his historic victory at the Athens Olympics. Liu complained then of feeling penned in and “stripped naked”, but the attention on him from 1.3 billion adoring fans in China has since grown exponentially.
The 10,000 fans who turned up to watch Liu at the national championships on Monday was a stark contrast to before he won Olympic gold, when organizers gave away tickets in an effort to lure spectators. Liu now trails only NBA superstar Yao Ming and “Memoirs of a Geisha” actress Zhang Ziyi on the Forbes list of the most marketable Chinese celebrities.
Last year, he earnt 23 million yuan (2.8 million dollars) from advertising deals, with his image plastered on buses, magazines, billboards and bus shelters to promote everything from credit cards to soft drinks, milk, motorbikes and clothes.
Liu is now mobbed everywhere he goes in China. At the 2005 national championships, the attention on him was so great that this year athletics officials asked him not to sign a single autograph in an effort to protect him.
“(Last year) it was impossible for Liu to have a rest. There was always someone who wanted to disturb (him). Liu was so kind that he could not refuse others’ request,” state press quoted Liu’s chief coach, Sun Haiping, as saying.
Those close to Liu have warned that “Xiang Fever” may even force him to pack his bags and head overseas for training.
“Liu has been disturbed not only by some crazy fans but also people who were supposed to keep him from those disturbances, such as security staff or even referees at competitions,” state press quoted national athletics team assistant coach Yu Weili as saying.
“So we are considering that it may be better for Liu to train abroad, in a quieter environment, and then come back for competition.”
But Sun said the problem of seeking a quieter life abroad also had its drawbacks.
“It is a good idea but the problem is that Liu has to overcome jet lag twice as he returns for competition and goes back,” he said. “In addition, he would have to compete like a foreign athlete without knowing much about the overseas venue.
The last of these was beautifully illustrated in the movie ‘White men can’t jump,’ where a white man (Woody Harrelson) plays on people’s prejudices that white people cannot play basketball very well.
And most of the times, it takes a special talent to rise above all the hurdles. China’s hurdling superstar Liu Xiang is that special talent.
As Xiang raced to victory in the 110-meter hurdles at the Athens Olympics in a world record-tying time of 12.91 sec., the shockwave that ran through the world of athletics was almost palpable. Stunned, a Greek TV announcer stammered: “In first place, it’s ... it’s a Chinese man. He is Mr. Liu. Congratulations to Mr. Liu from China.”
Since then Liu Xiang’s superstar status in China just keeps getting stronger, but the 110m hurdles world record holder and Olympic champion is showing signs of struggling with the pressure off the track.
Liu on Monday won his national championships for a sixth time in his first race since running 12.88 seconds in Switzerland last month to break Briton Colin Jackson’s 13-year-old world record.
However, despite 10,000 fans turning up to the event in Hebei province mainly because of his presence, the 23-year-old gave little indication of enjoying the moment.
“It is meaningless to compete here ... I had no choice but to come here,” the China Daily quoted the 23-year-old as saying, referring to his obligations to Chinese athletics to compete in the nation’s biggest domestic events.
“My first goal in domestic competitions is to win rather than try my best. When I am well ahead during the race I will slow down before the finishing line.”
His lack of enthusiasm for competing in China and the adoration of Chinese fans this week continues a trend that was seen almost immediately after he shot to fame with his historic victory at the Athens Olympics. Liu complained then of feeling penned in and “stripped naked”, but the attention on him from 1.3 billion adoring fans in China has since grown exponentially.
The 10,000 fans who turned up to watch Liu at the national championships on Monday was a stark contrast to before he won Olympic gold, when organizers gave away tickets in an effort to lure spectators. Liu now trails only NBA superstar Yao Ming and “Memoirs of a Geisha” actress Zhang Ziyi on the Forbes list of the most marketable Chinese celebrities.
Last year, he earnt 23 million yuan (2.8 million dollars) from advertising deals, with his image plastered on buses, magazines, billboards and bus shelters to promote everything from credit cards to soft drinks, milk, motorbikes and clothes.
Liu is now mobbed everywhere he goes in China. At the 2005 national championships, the attention on him was so great that this year athletics officials asked him not to sign a single autograph in an effort to protect him.
“(Last year) it was impossible for Liu to have a rest. There was always someone who wanted to disturb (him). Liu was so kind that he could not refuse others’ request,” state press quoted Liu’s chief coach, Sun Haiping, as saying.
Those close to Liu have warned that “Xiang Fever” may even force him to pack his bags and head overseas for training.
“Liu has been disturbed not only by some crazy fans but also people who were supposed to keep him from those disturbances, such as security staff or even referees at competitions,” state press quoted national athletics team assistant coach Yu Weili as saying.
“So we are considering that it may be better for Liu to train abroad, in a quieter environment, and then come back for competition.”
But Sun said the problem of seeking a quieter life abroad also had its drawbacks.
“It is a good idea but the problem is that Liu has to overcome jet lag twice as he returns for competition and goes back,” he said. “In addition, he would have to compete like a foreign athlete without knowing much about the overseas venue.