Liu Xiang's bid to banish his Beijing Olympics nightmare ended in disaster as the Chinese athletics icon crashed out of the 110m hurdles when he smashed into the first obstacle.
A combination of pictures shows (L) Chinese athlete Liu Xiang retiring from the first round of the men's 110m hurdles during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and (R) after striking a hurdle at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Former champion Liu Xiang left the Olympics Games in the first heat of the 110-metre hurdles for the second time in a row, clutching his right Achilles after he crashed into the first obstacle.
China's Liu Xiang (C) reacts after falling while competing in the men's 110 metre hurdles heats at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
China's Liu Xiang sits in a wheelchair after falling while competing in the men's 110 metre hurdles heats at the athletics event during the London 2012 Olympic Games.
China's Liu Xiang, right, fails to clear a hurdle in a men's 110-meter hurdles heat during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
