Whilst writing previous Liu Xiang post, I stumbled upon clips of Liu Xiang’s bronze medal in the 2003 Paris World Championships and his silver medal in Helsinki World Champs, two years later. This is the first time I’ve seen actual footage of the two races!
2003 Paris World Champs:
This was Liu Xiang’s first-ever major championship medal and Allen Johnson’s last world outdoor title. Liu was just 20-years old, but still managed to finish third (13.27s) behind the more illustrious American duo of Johnson (13.12s) and the 2000 Sydney Olympics silver medalist, Terrence Trammell (13.20s).
19-year old Shi Dong Peng 史冬鹏 (13.55s), fresh out of a silver medal in the 2002 World Junior Championships in Kingston, also qualified for his first major senior final.
Results (from sporting-heroes.com):
Allen JOHNSON (USA) 13.12
Terrence TRAMMELL (USA) 13.20
Xiang LIU (CHN) 13.23
Larry WADE (USA) 13.34
Chris PHILLIPS (USA) 13.36
Marcio Simao DE SOUZA (BRA) 13.48
Dongpeng SHI (CHN) 13.55
Yoel HERNANDEZ (CUB) 13.57
2005 Helsinki World Champs:
Liu (13.08), the newly-crowned Olympic champion and then co-world record holder, was upset by the audacious Ladji Doucoure (13.07s) of France. The 19-year old Frenchman came out of a disappointing Olympic campaign, badly hitting one of the barriers in the final. Allen Johnson, the defending world champion, clung on to a quick 13.10s.
The Helsinki World Champs announced the coming of age of the new generation of sprint hurdlers. It’s unfortunate that Doucoure has been slowed down by a spate of injuries in the subsequent years.
Results (from sporting-heroes.com):
Ladji DOUCOURE (FRA) 13.07
Xiang LIU (CHN) 13.08
Allen JOHNSON (USA) 13.10
Dominique ARNOLD (USA) 13.13
Terrence TRAMMELL (USA) 13.20
Joel BROWN (USA) 13.47
Maurice WIGNALL (JAM) 13.47
Mateus FACHO INOCENCIO (BRA) 13.48
It feels great to actually see the two races. Being a student of the sport living at the age of Web 2.0 surely has its advantages!
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