His face is a flip book of emotions, showing happiness, fatigue
and embarrassment without a single word. Having been in limelight
ever since his historic Olympic gold-medal performance in the 110m
hurdles in Athens three years ago, Liu Xiang has developed his own
way of dealing with the media.
After landing in Paris for no more than five hours, hungry and
tired, he was mobbed by French reporters at a press conference
before his race at the Paris Golden League that started on Friday
night.
"I can't control things beyond myself and what I can do is to
control myself - to run faster," he replied to a journalist who
asked how he values his popularity in China. "I will just try my
best on home turf in 2008 instead of putting so much pressure on
myself. I hope people can understand that."
Juggling a busy agenda this year in hopes of shattering his
world record of 12.88 seconds and chasing his first world title in
Osaka next month, Liu began his European tour on Thursday with
Paris as the first stop.
The 24-year-old has clinched five out of six international meets
so far this season. He raced his season-best of 12.92 seconds in
New York earlier last month, making him the only person in the
world to have four runs less than 12.94 seconds.
Asked about Lausanne, his second leg of this tour, and where he
eclipsed the 13-year-old world record last year, Liu didn't think
it was that special. "I will run as fast as I can wherever I am and
I do not intend to break my record at a certain place."
"In Chinese, 12.88 is a lucky number because "eight" symbolizes
"prosperity," he said playfully when journalists asked for his
comment on his record and the possibility of a new one. "But no one
knows what is his time will be before each race and it is the
electronic timer who decides it," he joked and that generated
laughter from the crowd.
During previous interviews, but both Liu and his coach Sun
Haiping said it was too early to expect another new world record in
Lausanne. "It is hard to predict. It is up to his own form and also
other external conditions," Sun said.
Instead, Liu told the media the only way to win is to take each
race as an ordinary one. "My wish in Paris is ordinary too," he
joked again. "It is impossible for me to go shopping alone in
China, so I hope to buy some clothes in Paris as a lot of stores
are on sale in the city."
A fan's website joked that it is unnecessary to equip Liu with
GPS when he gets lost because he will be mobbed by fans anywhere he
appears. In order to avoid trouble, he nearly goes nowhere except
his home, hotel, or training area in China.
"Do you think other athletes will be envious of your expensive
advertisement endorsements?" asked one reporter in hopes of
embarrassing him.
"I earn a lot because the sponsors recognize my achievements,"
he coolly replied. "Consequently; I have to pay high taxes as
athletes are ordinary tax payers too."
He said he didn't feel comfortable shooting advertisements, "I
don't think I look natural in ads. It feels like I was copied to
create another version of myself," referring to his Amway
advertisement co-starring with 100m race world record holder Asafa
Powell.
Reports said Liu had signed five 10 million yuan endorsements
this year and his price is expected to go up if he sets a new
record.
(China Daily July 9, 2007)