Of course, rivals do affect athletes mentally, but if you are competing with top-notch athletes, you will push each other, you will encourage each other.

Liu is an Olympic Gold medalist and World Champion. As per reports Liu Xiang is to have surgery on his Achilles tendon in Britain. Reaching 17 finals in the 60 m indoor hurdles and the 110 metre hurdles he lost just two both to American Allen Johnson[citation needed].

Liu is one of China's most commercially successful athletes and has emerged as a cultural icon. He was the favorite to win another gold in the 110 metre hurdles at the Beijing Olympics but he had to withdraw from competition at the last moment after a false start and aggravation to a previously unrevealed injury.