Kailin
Liu Xiang Liu Xiang, the China's first gold medalist in track and field, announced his retirement on Tuesday, in a very informal manner - using his Weibo, the counterpart of Twitter in China. His name "Xiang" in Mandarin means "soar". And he did soar to an unprecedented level. He made his name by winning the gold medal in the 110m hurdle race in the Athens Olympics. Then he became a national hero in every household in China. He proved that Asian athletes can compete with the world's best in track and field. Under strong media propaganda, it seemed that everybody in China expected him to win and nobody would tolerate a failure - a medal other than gold can be regarded as a failure by the authority and the media. He was pushed to the focus of the public in 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was supposed to compete and win in front of his fellowmen, in Shanghai, his hometown. However, he fell. His Achilles tendon broke out. And the past praises suddenly turned to accusations and disappointment, from the whole country. He might soar too high and hence when he fell, the pains were sharp. Under the state sports system in China, athletes are trained by the country and for the country. So it has been taken for granted that Liu should win the gold medal, after his first win in Athens. But the truth is every man may fall. In Liu's 48 major national and international races, he won the golds in 36 of them. However the only two flaws, one in Beijing 2008, the other in London, seemed to be better remembered than other glories. Xinhua News Agency, a major media in China, enshrined Liu as "a tragic hero". The media have been imposing great pressures on him, and any other national athletes, all the time. But he is never tragic in my heart, he is a miracle. My friend also discussed with me about the retirement system for athletes in China. It has been reported that some previous gold medalists can hardly make a living themselves after retirement. Most of their lives have been spent on trainings for Olympics. I don't know how to change yet - maybe a better pension system for athletes? I just feel that it should not be this way - gold medalists and national prides end up in poverty and frustration? Thank you for any corrections!
Apr 9, 2015 4:23 PM
Corrections · 3

Liu Xiang

Liu Xiang, the China's first gold medalist in track and field, announced his retirement on Tuesday, in a very informal manner - using his Weibo, the counterpart of Twitter in China.

His name "Xiang" in Mandarin means "soar". And he did soar to an unprecedented level. He made his name by winning the gold medal in the 110m hurdle race in the Athens Olympics. Then he became a national hero in every household in China. He proved that Asian athletes can compete with the world's best in track and field.

Under strong media propaganda, it seemed that everybody in China expected him to win and nobody would tolerate a failure - a medal other than gold can be regarded as a failure by the authorityies and the media.

He was pushed into the focus of the public in 2008 Beijing Olympics. He was supposed to compete and win in front of his fellowmen, in Shanghai, his hometown. However, he fell. His Achilles tendon broke out. And the past praises suddenly turned to accusations and disappointment, from the whole country.

He might have soared too high and hence when he fell, the pains were sharp. Under the state sports system in China, athletes are trained by the country and for the country. So it has had been taken for granted that Liu should win the gold medal, after his first win in Athens. But the truth is every man may fall.

In Liu's 48 major national and international races, he won the golds in 36 of them. However the only two flaws, one in Beijing 2008, the other in London, seemed to be better remembered than other glories.

Xinhua News Agency, a major media in China, enshrined Liu as "a tragic hero". The media have been imposing great pressures on him, and any other national athletes, all the time. But he is never tragic in my heart, he is a miracle.

My  A friend and I also were discusseding with me about  the retirement system for athletes in China. It has been reported that some previous gold medalists can hardly make a living for themselves after retirement. Most of their lives have been spent on trainings for Olympics. I don't know how to change yet this- maybe a better pension system for athletes? I just feel that it should not be this way - gold medalists and national prides end up in poverty and frustration?

Thank you for any corrections!

 

<em>Some very good language, especially the second paragraph is excellent.</em>

April 18, 2015
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