China's first Olympic champion hurdler Liu Xiang announced his retirement on Tuesday, after being sidelined for more than two years due to ankle surgery.

 

Liu, 31, China's first male Olympic champion in athletics, became a sports icon in China after his milestone wins in the 110-meter hurdles event at the 2004 Olympics Games and World Championships. 

 

"I'm really sick and old ¡­ I will retire and start a new journey," Liu said on his Sina Weibo account on Tuesday afternoon.  "Although I'm passionate, my leg said no to me over and over," he said, citing the Achilles tendon injury.

 

The Chinese Athletic Association (CAC) thanked Liu, praising him for "breaking the monopoly" of Europe and the US in athletics. Liu held the world record in 2006 with a time of 12.88 seconds. At the 2007 Osaka World Championships, Liu reached his second milestone by winning in 12.95 seconds in this event.  

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