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The Liu Xiang news ticker

Thursday, 8th January 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

For a rehabilitating athlete at least several months away from his next competition, Liu Xiang is getting a lot of press lately. The former 110-meter hurdles Olympic and world champion is in Houston after undergoing surgery for the Achilles' injury that kept him out of competition at the Beijing Olympics in August. Dr. Tom Clanton, the Houston Rockets' team doctor, removed bone spurs from Liu's foot December 5 (ESPN).

His coach has said that Liu is unlikely to be ready to compete in time for the world championships next August in Berlin. The Shanghai Daily reports that Liu's next race may be the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix next September. And meanwhile, the People's Daily ran a story about a text message that Liu sent his father, promising that in 2009, "I will protect myself and I will get stronger."

While not rehabbing, Liu Xiang is drinking Cokes with Yao Ming, this crafty little soft ad from Coca-Cola would have you believe.

Tags: 110-meter hurdles, athletics, Coca-Cola, Liu Xiang, sports marketing, track and field, Yao Ming

One-year ban for one-finger salute

Thursday, 8th January 2009 ~ Maggie ~ Link ~ Comments (0)

Speed skater Song Xingyu of Heilongjiang province was reportedly given a one-year ban by the Chinese Winter Sports Administration, for making an obscene gesture to the crowd as he crossed the finish line in a 10,000-meter race in Liaoning province.

The 20-year-old Song, who took the bronze medal in the event, says that fans were heckling him before he flipped them the bird.

"I apologize to all the spectators. I shouldn't have made that gesture," China Daily quotes Song as saying. "But I did it because some people attacked me verbally and abused my parents. I was furious."

The China Daily story also includes this quote from an unnamed official:

"During the sanction period, Song should meditate on his mistake deeply and write a self-criticism." A year should be plenty of time to meditate on his middle finger.

Tags: Song Xingyu, speed skating, Winter Sports Administration