Liu Xiang (C) jumps over a hurdle during the final of the men's 110m hurdles at the Good Luck Beijing 2008 China Athletics Open held at the National Stadium in Beijing, May 24, 2008. Liu Xiang claimed the title of the event with 13 seconds 18.
World record holder and Olympic gold medalist Liu Xiang won here Saturday evening the men's 110 meters hurdles gold at the China Athletics Open.
The 24-year-old Liu finished the race at 13.18 seconds at the test event for the Beijing Olympics.
Liu's show in the National Stadium, nicknamed as the Bird's Nest, attracted at least 60,000 spectators.
"I hope the Bird's Nest will be a place of my second dream," Liu said after the race, indicating that he is aspiring for his second Olympic gold.
"I took it seriously although it was just a test event," said Liu, who obviously didn't exert full strength on the last few steps finishing the dash. "I am going to prepare for the forthcoming several events in the United States."
"The purpose for me to compete in the U.S. events is to test my utmost strength," Liu said, "so I'm going to see how well I can do at the last event before the Olympics."
Liu made a false start in the competition. "I didn't mean to do it," he said. "I just wanted to start with the gun, but it seemed a bit early."
Liu wore a new track attire which exposes much of his back. "Athletes compete with their power, but not their attires," Liu joked on his jersey, the design of which might be finalized in the coming months for men athletes of the Chinese team at the Olympics.
"I love the noise of crowds in the stadium and even more noise at the Olympics would make me excited," the star runner said.
The Chinese star runner also spoke highly of the track he tested in the Bird's Nest. He said the elasticity and dynamics of the running track are enough to compete with the best ones in the world. He said he hopes the Bird's Nest would bring him good luck.
Liu said his training and competing strategy in months leading to the Olympics is to make sure that he would not get injured.
The Shanghai-born athlete said the most significant preparation for the coming Olympics would be mental preparedness and physical adjustment. "Anyway, I've already won an Olympic gold," he said.
Liu's teammates Shi Dongpeng, China's another hopeful for the Olympic men's 110 meters hurdles final, finished the second place at 13.29.
