China’s star hurdler Liu Xiang insisted he felt “healthy” just moments before injury ended his Olympic career, as controversy erupted over an alleged cover-up. The former 110m gold medallist, in his first major interview since his spectacular exit in London, told state broadcaster CCTV he “felt healthy standing on the starting line”. Liu also said he would not take part in the next Olympics. The comments were given as reports circulated that CCTV knew in advance that Liu was injured, but was banned from releasing the information by China’s propaganda department. According to reports quoted by Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, broadcaster Yang Jian, who wept live on air, had prepared scripts in advance in case Liu limped out for the second Games running. Liu’s latest injury, markedly similar to his withdrawal in 2008, caused widespread shock in China. A specially created tribute website quickly drew 28 million messages of support. “Standing on the line, I felt I was a healthy Liu Xiang. Actually I was having problems on my foot at the time, but I felt I could run fast,” Liu told CCTV, in the interview aired late on Thursday. “(But) when I tried the first hurdle, I felt like I was lashed by a whip.”
