Liu heading to the US for winter spell

Updated: 2011-11-10 07:59

By Lei Lei and Xie Chuanjiao (China Daily)

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Liu heading to the US for winter spell

Liu Xiang, in the midst of training for the Olympics and rehabbing his injured foot, poses at a signing ceremony for Tsingtao on Wednesday. Provided to China Daily

BEIJING - Liu Xiang and his foot are still improving.

China's star hurdler is focusing on next year's London Olympic Games, and his winter camp will start next week with a rehabilitation of his foot injury in the United States.

He will leave for the US on Saturday and begin working with therapists near Los Angeles.

"We cannot say Liu's injury has fully recovered since he can still feel it after intensive running," Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, told China Daily on Wednesday in Beijing.

"The injury is the key factor of his speed, so we hope it can further recover after our stay in the US."

Sun and Liu will stay in the US for less than a month, and then come back to Liu's hometown, Shanghai, for the rest of winter training.

"Improving his starts is the main task for Liu during winter training," Sun said. "He still has to master the seven-step technique."

To further improve his speed, the former Olympic and world champion picked up a new technique - using seven steps instead of eight to approach the first hurdle - in February.

He adapted to it quickly, finishing the 110m hurdles in a solid 13.07 seconds at the Shanghai Diamond League meet in May.

At the World Championships in August, he claimed the silver after a clash with world record holder Dayron Robles of Cuba.

After battling the Achilles tendon injury for years, Liu returned strongly this year. The 28-year-old has said he's back in peak form.

But his coach is cautious about saying so.

"We can say some of his abilities have reached that level, but he still has to improve his strength and speed," Sun said.

Liu just wants to be in top form for the Games.

"I will pay much attention to the details in training and just cast off all restrictions in races," Liu said.

Meanwhile, Liu continues to attract sponsors - he signed with Tsingtao Brewery Co Ltd, one of the oldest beer producers in China, to be one of its Champion Team members on Wednesday.

The company signed three other stars - gymnastics world and Olympic champion Chen Yibing, diving world champion He Zi and basketball star Yi Jianlian.

China Daily