Liu Xiang crashes out of London 2012

Ezra Shaw / Getty Images

Four years after injury denied Liu Xiang the chance to defend his 110m hurdle title on home soil in Beijing, Olympic heartbreak struck again in London.

The 2004 champion, one of the favourites for the gold medal, clattered the first obstacle and fell in his heat on Tuesday.
He limped determinedly down the track toward the finish line, his troublesome Achilles problem having clearly flared up again, before Great Britain's Andy Turner, the heat winner, helped him away.
The disappointment echoed that of four years ago when Liu, carrying the hopes of a nation, walked off the start line, unable to run because of an Achilles problem.
It was a sad end for one of the world's greatest ever hurdlers in what could be the 29-year-old's last Olympics.
Aries Merritt, world number one, said: "It's just a tragedy for that to happen to one of the best hurdlers of all time.
"I hope he's okay. It's a shame that had to happen to Liu.
"He looked fine before the race. He was happy. I don't think anything was wrong, I think he just made a small mistake and when you do that at this speed it's hard to recover."
Turner said: "I regard him as probably the best hurdler in history and have so much respect for him. It was horrible seeing him limp off like that so you have to go and help people."
The pair both made the podium at last year's World Championships in Daegu when Turner took the bronze and Liu the silver.
The Briton added: "When you medal with people you have a kind of connection and after last year in Daegu we always say hello and try and have a chat in what little English he speaks. He's a nice guy and I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy."