"Now I am a common mortal, I decided not to struggle with the past, since I chose to leave, I have to be strong to face, I have a lot of reluctance, but I will be happy to move forward, I have regrets and helplessness, should be grateful."
Liu Xiang retired. Microblogging released a long letter "my runway my column", the words are quite sad and helpless. But "although reluctant, although painful, but I have no choice."
In fact, Liu Xiang's sports career is a story about choice. It is the choice that opens a remarkable life. It is also a choice that has caused great controversy. His glory seems to be related to too many people in the country, and the pain, only belongs to himself. His dream of being a hero has ignited the illusions of many uninvolved people, and the blood that has been shed is not immune to sarcasm and ridicule.
Liu Xiang symbolizes an era. In the larger context of the times, he is a microcosm, a mirror, reflecting the human heart of the in and out, right and wrong. Well, the extraordinary life and mortal fate of the war is over. Liu Xiang can finally return to the life of ordinary people.
At the age of 13, he was introduced to the hurdles and at 18 he was selected for the national team and became a national champion. Then came Athens in 2004, where the young hurdler became the center of attention, Lausanne in 2006, where he broke the world record in 12:88, Osaka in 2007, where he won his first World Championships, and Valencia in 2008, where he won his first World Indoor Championships and achieved Asia's first Grand Slam in the hurdles.
"At the time, I heard nothing but praise. In retrospect, it may not be good to have life go too smoothly." Liu Xiang wrote this in his letter.
After that, it is the Beijing Olympic Games at home. The moment of retreat, "Liu run run", "Liu retreat retreat" is the easiest irony, earlier singing on stage, the moment of the oath, and even high-priced advertising contracts, also have to rummage out, to become the talk of the town after dinner. At that time, around Liu Xiang is these voices: even if not run, walk to the end.
This was followed by surgery to change the 15-year old "eight steps to the bar" to seven, just to improve the speed up front. The results did improve until the injury worsened again on the eve of the 2012 London Olympics.
This time, Liu Xiang ran, fell, was injured, returned to the track, hopped on one leg to finish the race, and kissed the rail as a farewell.
Liu Xiang recalled in the letter, "Although I already knew that I was in a bad way, but I really wanted to get back a game for my life at that time, I don't want people to call me a coward and a 'Liu Running Run' on the verge of fleeing."
In return, he is "showman", "actor" and even more complex and bizarre conspiracy theories.
The spectator never dies. This is the reality that every character in front of the camera must face. To put it bluntly, for some ordinary people who are discontented, when it is difficult to relieve their own incompetence, dissolving the significance of other people's success becomes the only way of redemption.
In this coolness, few people are willing to understand that, when the lights go down, the momentary heroes also have to go through a long and boring life of mediocrity. And when the lights dim, they are just ordinary people.
My colleague Shen Lei recalled the scene of meeting Liu Xiang in early 2001.
Eleven years ago, on a July afternoon. I went to the Huangsi training base of the Beijing 8 Labor Brigade with a Shanghai-based Beijing reporter to interview the Chinese track and field team that was training for the World Championships in Edmonds.
Standing under the shade of a tree, with a robin chirping vigorously just above our heads, the two of us chatted in the small breeze about either life's aspirations or perhaps simply girls. We were interrupted by a young man stretching his muscles - "You guys are from Shanghai too?" The tall, skinny guy asked.
"Yeah. You're on the track team? Which program?"
"110 meter hurdles."
"What's your name?"
"Liu Xiang."
"Just you? Where's the coach?"
"Me? I went to mix it up ah, the coach did not make the team list."
"Did you watch the successful Olympic bid the other day?"
"Looked and looked and was so excited. You know, it happens to be my birthday."
"I'll see you at the Beijing Olympics."
"That depends on luck."
I have never seen Liu Xiang. But relying on TV, newspapers and social networks, I have the impression that Liu Xiang is such a smart, sunny and spontaneous young man. You can even read out the shrewdness of attacking and defending from the similar phrase "going to mingle" spoken by countless Shanghai big boys.
Only, when he was accompanied by those 19 years of "big toys", ascended to the peak of life, the scarcity of track and field championships, the hunger of national honor, the involvement of commercial interests, the claims of the Athletic Management Center, climbed, entangled together, become a heavy burden, waiting to be consumed and attached to the meeting.
It is conceivable that in the foreseeable future, rumors about Liu Xiang's retirement, including romance and marriage, will still pervade the community until a new star takes center stage. After that, only in the historical data, dusty images will wake up about the hurdler's slight memories.
But forgetting and remembering would not have mattered. Nothing is more important than life itself. If the highlights on the sports field show the power and beauty of the human body, the long life off the field is more of a test of human wisdom and courage.
Liu Xiang once again made a choice. "Now I am a common mortal, I decided not to struggle in the past, since I chose to leave, we must be strong to face, I have a lot of reluctance, but I will be happy to move forward, I have regrets and helplessness, should be grateful."
I wish him his heart's desire to come true. (Source: Xinhua)