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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