I still remember that Chinese TV advertisements were flooded with Liu Xiang’s image after he won gold of men’s 110 metres hurdle final at the Athens 2004 Olympic. When I was shopping at Bic Camera in Tokyo this summer, a Japanese sales man’s first question to me was about Liu Xiang after he knew I’m from China. Sometimes I wonder if Liu Xiang is really the best. See AP’s report:
Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang doesn’t see himself as an idol in his nation.
Yet he can’t go out for a meal without friends having to shield away fans. He gets written about when he simply moves into a new house and has his own web site where admirers leave messages about how much they love him…
Liu is just as popular as basketball player Yao Ming, maybe even more so since he doesn’t leave the country to play for the Houston Rockets. Liu won’t agree with that, though.
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See also the BBC report about Yao Ming got married this August.
