Liu Xiang (born July 13, 1983 in Shanghai, China) is
a Chinese 110 metre hurdler, an Olympic Gold
medalist, the reigning World Champion, and is the
world record holder in the 110 metre hurdles at
12.88 seconds. His 2004 Olympic gold medal was
China's first in a men's track and field event.
Furthermore he is the first Chinese athlete to
achieve the "triple crown" of athletics (World
Record Holder, World Champion and Olympic Champion)
concurrently.
Liu Xiang was born on July 13, 1983 in Shanghai,
China. He is the only child of a truck driver and a
waitress. Liu was selected and enrolled in a junior
sports school in the fourth grade and initially
succeeded at the high jump by winning the national
high-jump title for boys his age in his first year
of competition. At age 15 he met hurdle coach Sun
Haiping, who persuaded him to switch events.
