Liu Xiang

Liu Xiang is a retired Chinese hurdler who specialized in the 110-meter hurdles. Born in Shanghai on July 13, 1983, he became a national hero and global sports icon through his record-breaking performances.

At the 2004 Athens Olympics, Liu won the gold medal in the 110m hurdles with a time of 12.91 seconds, equaling the world record and securing China's first-ever Olympic gold in men's athletics. He followed that with a world record of 12.88 seconds in 2006 and a world championship title in 2007, becoming the only male athlete to simultaneously hold the world record, Olympic gold, and world title in his event.

Liu's career was also marked by devastating injuries, including a dramatic withdrawal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and a torn Achilles at the 2012 London Games. He retired in April 2015. Today, Liu is remembered not only for his athletic achievements but also for his resilience and his role in inspiring a generation of Chinese athletes. He remains a beloved cultural figure, known for his humility and his famous words, "I am Liu Xiang. You are Liu Xiang, we are all Liu Xiang." [edit]

Liu Xiang was born on July 13, 1983, in the Putuo District of Shanghai, weighing 9.9 pounds at birth, unusually heavy for a Chinese baby. His father drove a truck for a water company, and his mother worked as a pastry cook at a food factory. Because both parents worked long hours, Liu was raised largely by his grandparents, and his greatest childhood pleasure was eating his grandmother's braised pork.

His family hoped he would become a computer engineer, but Liu dreamed of athletics. He recalled telling his mother, "I told my mother that I would compete in the Olympics one day." His journey began with the high jump in school, where coaches noticed his speed and agility. In 1998, coach Sun Haiping spotted the 15-year-old and persuaded him to focus on the 110-meter hurdles. At 16, Liu began formal training under Sun, drawing inspiration from American hurdler Allen Johnson and British hurdler Colin Jackson. [edit]

Liu's competitive career took off in 2001 when he won four major titles, including the World University Games in Beijing. In 2002, he set a world junior record of 13.12 seconds at the IAAF Grand Prix in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The crowning moment came at the 2004 Athens Olympics, where he clocked 12.91 seconds to win gold, equaling Colin Jackson's world record. This victory made him the first Chinese man to win an Olympic gold in athletics, triggering "excited hysteria in China." On July 11, 2006, at the same Lausanne venue, he broke the world record with 12.88 seconds. In 2007, he won the World Championship in Osaka, becoming the only male athlete to hold the world record, world title, and Olympic gold simultaneously.

At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Liu withdrew from his first-round heat after aggravating a chronic Achilles injury, shocking the nation. After 13 months of rehabilitation, he returned to win a third consecutive Asian Games gold in 2010. At the 2012 London Olympics, he tore the same Achilles while clearing the first hurdle and fell. He announced his retirement on April 7, 2015, via Sina Weibo. [edit]

Liu Xiang is known for his low-profile appearance despite being one of the most popular athletes in China. He is "adored like a pop star" and admired for his individuality, a rare trait in Chinese public life. Men want to be like him; women want to marry him. His fame was so intense that in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics, at least five newspapers and one television station assigned reporters to cover him full-time. Liu expressed ambivalence about celebrity, saying, "I can only go places where very few people visit. Places that are very expensive." [edit]

Liu Xiang commands a level of national attention in China that transcends typical athletic celebrity, anchoring his legacy in the collective memory of a nation. According to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings, he is currently the 89th most famous person in China and the 99th most famous person from China, positions holding steady through the August 2026 cycle. These placements reflect enduring recognition driven by media coverage, public consumption, and historical significance rather than fleeting trends. His support base lacks a formalized name, functioning instead as a unified national movement where the Chinese public views him as a hero whose personal trajectory mirrors the country's own aspirations. Unlike organized subcultures with specific titles, his followers are united by a deep, protective investment in his legacy, often treating his injuries as shared national tragedies. This dynamic was evident during the 2008 withdrawal, where the collective grief transformed an athletic setback into a cultural moment, and again in early 2026 when fans rallied to defend his loyalty against emigration rumors. The relationship between Liu Xiang and his audience remains defined by solemn respect and a sense of ownership over his story, cementing his status not merely as an athlete but as a permanent fixture in the Chinese cultural landscape.[edit]

Liu Xiang bears the nickname "The Yellow Bullet" within China. A pair of golden shoes autographed by the hurdler sold for $18,750 at a charity auction, while he donated approximately 2,500,000 yuan (US$364,000) to relief efforts following the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. In Lausanne, Switzerland, locals famously remark, "If you want to marry, then marry Liu Xiang," a phrase born from his record-breaking victory there. He once told schoolchildren, "I am Liu Xiang. You are Liu Xiang, we are all Liu Xiang," conveying that everyone can be a champion, though he later noted, "I have money now, but I can't shop." The mythology surrounding his career includes the Athens Miracle of 2004, where he secured China's first men's track gold, and the tragic image of his 2008 Beijing withdrawal, which became a visual shorthand for national heartbreak. A recent viral narrative from early 2026 reinforced his legend of loyalty after he publicly refuted claims of emigrating to the United States.[edit]

Liu Xiang was born to a truck driver father and a pastry cook mother in Shanghai. He was raised primarily by his grandparents during his early years. Liu married actress Ge Tian in September 2014, but the marriage ended in divorce in 2015. In December 2016, he married pole vaulter Wu Sha in Fiji. No children have been reported from either marriage. Liu has said that during his competitive career he never had enough time to spend with his family, and he felt he owed them a great deal. [edit]

Liu Xiang's career was shaped by coach Sun Haiping, who discovered him in 1998 and guided him to world records. He drew inspiration from British hurdler Colin Jackson, whose world record he equaled in 2004 and broke in 2006. His first wife was actress Ge Tian (married 2014, divorced 2015), and his current wife is pole vaulter Wu Sha (married 2016). [edit]

Liu Xiang's first public relationship was with actress Ge Tian. They dated for two years before marrying on September 7, 2014. The marriage was short-lived, ending in divorce in 2015. In January 2016, Liu announced a new relationship with pole vaulter Wu Sha on Sina Weibo. They married in Fiji on December 1, 2016. As of 2026, Liu is married to Wu Sha, and no reports of separation have surfaced. [edit]

iFANN currently estimates Liu Xiang's net worth at $50 million as of 2026. This figure reflects a successful athletic career combined with lucrative sponsorship agreements featuring Nike, Coca-Cola, and Cadillac. His endorsement portfolio during his competitive peak represented one of the most valuable collections in Chinese sports history. Following his retirement, earnings from television appearances and continued brand associations have sustained his financial standing. While he maintains a low-key lifestyle post-competition, the revenue streams generated by his fame remain substantial contributors to his total wealth.[edit]

Liu Xiang won the Olympic gold medal in 2004, the World Championship in 2007, and three consecutive Asian Games golds (2002, 2006, 2010). He also earned a silver and bronze at World Championships and was named the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year in 2005. [edit]