Liu injury darkens China's brightest Games

BEIJING  - Chinese superstar Liu Xiang sensationally pulled out of the 110m hurdles heats injured Monday, putting a huge dampener on China's celebrations at achieving their most successful Olympics.

Liu, the defending champion, is a national hero in China with his face on billboards everywhere, and his shock withdrawal with a foot injury after just a few strides in his hurdles heat stunned the nation.

The Bird's Nest, packed with a capacity 91,000 fans waiting for Liu's race, went silent in disbelief as he limped from the stadium.

The official athletics television coverage was halted for a hastily arranged press conference where a weeping Sun Haiping, Liu's coach, explained a right heel injury, which has been a problem for years, flared up again.

The sudden withdrawal of the "Shanghai Express", the first Chinese athlete to simultaneously hold a world record, a world title and an Olympic gold, stunned his legion of fans who see Liu as a symbol of China's burgeoning success in the world.

"I came here especially to see him. I am devastated. I just bought one ticket. The Olympics is over for me as well as Liu Xiang," said Sun Yejun, 30, as she wiped tears from her eyes.