LIU Xiang, 21, became the first Chinese athlete to win a short-distance track and field gold medal, with his 110-metre high hurdles triumph and a world record-tying time of 12.91 seconds at the Athens Olympics (see the story "Golden leap year" in the September 2 issue).

Shanghai-born Liu also clocked the season's third fastest time of 13.06 seconds in May, behind only his own Olympic gold winning time and four-time world champion Allen Johnson's 13.05.

"If he maintains such good form, I believe Liu will have a serious chance of breaking the world record in 2006," said Sun Haiping, his present coach.

Sun said Liu's aim in 2005 was to keep his time between 13 and 13.10 seconds.

But Liu said that it would be very difficult to break the 11-year-old world record, set by Britain's Collin Jackson in 1993.

"It is relatively easy to run inside 14 seconds, but very difficult to break the barrier of 13 seconds," he said.

Due to Liu Xiang's achievement, August 27, 2004, will remain a memorable day in the history of the Olympic Games, especially among Chinese people. Liu's stunning victory, with its world record-equalling time of 12.91 seconds, marked the first time an Asian athlete had ever won the event. No Chinese athlete had ever won a gold medal in an Olympics track sprint event.

"This victory is the pride of China," said Liu. "It's also the pride of Asia and all Chinese people across the world. This is a miracle, but I believe a lot more miracles will take place in China."

The 21-year-old Shanghainese displayed a special spirit seldom seen among Chinese athletes. Modesty and prudence are typically regarded as precious moral virtues by Chinese, with athletes sharing these values. They are expected to be silent, modest and reluctant to display emotion. But Liu Xiang was different.

He jumped and shouted in the warm-up, showing great confidence.

He even jumped onto the platform to receive the gold medal after his win.

"I was confident and in top form during the whole race, from the warm-up to the last sprint," he said.

Liu even remained unflustered after a false start by US hurdler Terrence Trammell, starting the race brilliantly and pulling three metres clear of the field by the finish line.

"My victory has proved that athletes with yellow skin can run as fast as those with black and white skins," he said.

Liu's road to sports triumph was not as smooth as his running. He was dismissed in 1998 by his coach after two years' high jumping training because he was judged to be too small and thin. A test showed Liu would not grow tall enough to succeed at the high jump.

But coach Sun Haiping discovered his potential as a runner and drew him back to the track, despite his parents' vow never to let him back on the sports field again.

"It would be a pity to waste the talents of such a gifted boy. He will make a superb hurdler with good training," Sun had said.

Liu's height has now reached 1.88m and he is stilling growing taller.

Liu's fans think their hero is straightforward, active and humourous.

"He has a natural aptitude for sporting glory but on the other hand he is very amiable," said Zhang Ping, one of Liu's fans in Shanghai.