Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang has gone under the knife after a serious Achilles tendon tear put him out of the London Olympics. A senior Chinese sports official says the operation was successful, and his doctor is satisfied.
Heartbreak for the former 110-meter hurdles gold medallist, and for his supporters all over the world.
An Achilles tendon injury brought him down as it had in Beijing.
Liu Xiang was taken to the UK’s biggest private hospital, London’s Wellington Hospital.
There the 29-year-old was treated by sports surgeon Nicholas Cullen, who’s operated on many famous athletes.
Liu Xiang’s parents were there the entire time.
The Director General of the Shanghai Sports Bureau told reporters the operation was successful, and after two days in Wellington Hospital, Liu Xiang would return to his hometown Shanghai to recover.
Li Yuyi, Director general, Shanghai sport bureau: "The operation was very successful. It took one hour and nineteen minutes. Liu Xiang is now in a good shape."
Li said the ultimate goal is to get Liu Xiang up and running again. Right after the Beijing Games, he underwent surgery in a US hospital. Nine months later, he returned to the track and won a silver medal at the Shanghai Golden Grand Prix.