Liu Xiang Critics Bring Shame to China
You did know Liu Xiang has been injured all year, right? The 2004 gold medalist in the 110 meter hurdles hasn’t been in top form in months. So why is it such a shock that, after the Chinese Team and the nation did all they could to force this poor guy to run through injury, he won’t be able to defend his crown? And the fact that people are mad at him is absolutely outrageous. Liu Xiang is a national hero for excelling in track and field, an area in which China has long lagged behind. But what has he done for us lately?
China and the world should have know that pushing athletes too hard was asking for disappointment. They all but forced Yao Ming to come back early from a broken foot, threatening his whole career. And Liu Xiang was known too be injured. Here is some evidence from a Reuters article published nearly a month ago:
A hamstring injury caused him to pull out of one meeting in New York and he was disqualified from the Prefontaine Classic for a false start.
Then Robles shaved a hundredth of a second off his world record.
Back in Beijing and still troubled by his injury, Liu is relying on his big race temperament to carry him through.
But instead of being happy with the fact that Liu Xiang achieved something incredible, some in China have the gall to be angry at him for not gutting out a serious injury and winning again. This is so shameful I can’t even begin to express my contempt for people who now look down on this man. I can understand severe disappointment, but anger at this guy? Here’s a piece from the Washington Post:
Tears were followed by anger. Although the general coach of China’s athletics team said Liu was forced to drop out because of a recurring problem with his Achilles tendon, droves of fans criticized the hurdler online, accusing the 25-year-old Shanghai native of letting the nation down. He “stained the motherland” by not finishing the heat, some said, adding that he should have crawled on his hands and knees if necessary.
You know what? Idiots who think that Liu Xiang has “stained the motherland” are the real people who bring shame to China. This is an athlete who has devoted his life to the glory of his country. And he has accomplished tremendous feats. In the process he gave up his body to the sport. Anyone who thinks that Liu Xiang has brought shame to China doesn’t know the first thing about what that word means. If the people who look down on Liu Xiang had any sense of shame, they would have the good sense to keep their selfish anger to themselves.
Liu Xiang’s luster should not be diminished in anyone’s eyes, but his critics should embarrass people everywhere.
Share This
Anonymous responds:
Posted: August 19th, 2008 at 5:27 pm →
I totally agree. Liu Xiang had an injured foot that was causing him a lot of pain. If he had continued he would have risked his tendon. Those heartless “fans” only care about whether he wins or not!
Jeremy responds:
Posted: August 19th, 2008 at 6:02 pm →
Josh,
Right on - what an asshole way to respond.
It made me cringe to see him repeatedly and thoroughly justify himself in an interview today, too.
Then again, maybe it’s us who just don’t get it.
Nick responds:
Posted: August 19th, 2008 at 8:05 pm →
Thanks for posting this Josh. I have the utmost sympathy and respect for the guy.
Kevin responds:
Posted: August 19th, 2008 at 8:27 pm →
I agree, Josh– as a former runner myself, any athlete would be foolish to run through an Achilles’ Tendon injury or a hamstring injury. That risks permanent harm. Liu won a gold medal in 2004, he’s obviously a champion– give the guy a break.
To be fair, many Americans act the same arrogant way toward our own athletes. When they gymnast, Alicia Sacramone, fell down on her routines to cause the USA to lose the gold medal to China, many American fans arrogantly attacked her. If anything, the USA is even worse in this regard.
Besides, China has won 41 gold medals and is utterly dominating this Olympics. The USA has won only 25 golds– IOW, China is not only winning this Olympics, they’re totally crushing the USA. So I’m getting tired of all the boo-hoo whining about Liu Xiang– he was injured, he’s still a champion, and China’s winning big anyway.
There needs to be some perspective. Liu Xiang was running one race with one medal on the line. Where China is dominating across the Olympics as a whole. The Chinese should feel proud of their accomplishment.
Elana responds:
Posted: August 19th, 2008 at 11:36 pm →
Here’s the NY Times’ more sympathetic to the nation take on it:
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/sports/olympics/19vecsey.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=Pain%20Travels%20Far%20Beyond%20a%20National%20Hero%92s%20Leg&st=cse&oref=slogin
Dan responds:
Posted: August 20th, 2008 at 12:13 am →
You are absolutely 100% right. The guy is an Olympic champion. Does anyone really believe he would not have gutted it out if there had been any way he could have done so? On top of everything else, these people who are angry know nothing about sports.
saah responds:
Posted: August 20th, 2008 at 3:27 am →
Many Americans may have attacked Alicia Sacramone, but many many more could care less about her falls and love her just because she is hot. (I heard statistics about this, her being hot is the number two web search right behind Michael Phelps or something like that.) Now what does that say about the USA?
Jeremy - I think you may be on to something when you said “Then again, maybe it’s us who just don’t get it.” We can’t forget that this is a completely different culture, one that puts “losing face” way above pretty much anything else. I agree with you, but I also understand how the Chinese may not. But then again, I haven’t even been to China yet, so all I know is from what I’ve been reading.
Julie responds:
Posted: August 20th, 2008 at 8:49 am →
I agree with you. I thought I’d never see a human and sympathetic side of you on your blog.
Pete Braden responds:
Posted: August 20th, 2008 at 10:17 am →
He’s an investment. Taxes at work. How many tens of millions of yuan did China invest in each of its golds this year? And he has the gall not to deliver the goods?
That’s the perspective that allows people to attack him. Reminds me of a story JFK used to tell about a guy who never dropped a fly ball, never got out stealing a base, never made a stupid mistake. Only problem was, he also never put down his beer and hotdog to go out on the field to play.
stuart responds:
Posted: August 20th, 2008 at 12:05 pm →
It comes as no surprise to hear some unsympathetic responses to Liu’s withdrawal, but China should feel even greater shame for blatantly exploiting underage gymnasts in its pursuit of Gold. They weren’t the first, and they won’t be the last, but it was cheating pure and simple.
chineselives.info responds:
Posted: August 20th, 2008 at 2:14 pm →
Liu Xiang certainly would like to quit the Olympics in an early stage if he can be allowed to do so by the higher rank men in the sports system, i assume. He is in a awkward place,because he ran he lose and a shame, but he quit, will disappoint the nation.
nanheyangrouchuan responds:
Posted: August 21st, 2008 at 1:23 am →
China has a long record of ruining its athletes in the name of national glory. Plenty of examples from the 80s and 90s exist and have been interviewed by the international press.
And as far as the China dominating the games, from a gold medals standpoint yes, but from an overall medals standpoint the US is still on top. And that despite being hobbled by quite a few questionable decisions and the under 15 PRC little girls’ gymnastics team.
Funny thing is the angry youth that are so quick to criticize Liu are typically so feeble they could neither jump over the hurdle nor move it out of the way by themselves.
Ben Ross responds:
Posted: August 21st, 2008 at 12:23 pm →
I’ve always wondered what would have happened had Liu Xiang not been injured, but failed to repeat the gold medal. What if he had gotten the bronze, or even no medal at all? In my book, his win at Athens should have been enough to seal his legacy regardless, and I think a lot of Chinese people would have felt the same way as well. But you wonder what the reaction would have been had Liu been healthy, but not won the gold.
Chuck responds:
Posted: August 21st, 2008 at 8:04 pm →
I think people with this viewpoint are a tiny minority, at least from reading Tianya after this happened. 99% were completely supportive.