When discussing Liu Xiang's competition career, one must begin with his earth-shattering victory at the 2004 Athens Olympics. The then-21-year-old shocked the world by winning gold in the 110m hurdles with a 12.91-second finish - matching the world record and becoming China's first male Olympic champion in athletics.

What made Liu's racing journey particularly remarkable was how he dominated a sport where Asian athletes had historically struggled. His technical perfection - especially his explosive start and fluid hurdle clearance - became textbook material for coaches worldwide.

The Shanghai native's career wasn't without heartbreak. A tendon injury forced him to withdraw from the 2008 Beijing Olympics in front of his home crowd - a moment that brought the nation to tears. His competition history shows remarkable resilience though, as he returned to win Asian Games gold in 2010 and briefly reclaimed world #1 ranking.

"I wanted to prove that Chinese athletes can run just as fast as anyone. The hurdles don't care about your nationality."
— Liu Xiang, 2007 World Championships

Liu's professional racing timeline ended in 2015 after persistent injuries, but his legacy endures. He inspired generations of Chinese athletes to compete in track events and demonstrated that with perfect technique and determination, any barrier - literal or metaphorical - can be overcome.

Today, his athletic career summary serves as a masterclass in sports psychology. The way he handled both triumph (his famous shirt-waving celebration) and adversity (the dignified 2008 exit) cemented his status as one of track & field's all-time great ambassadors.