Liu feeling lucky about Lausanne race
China's 110m hurdles star Liu Xiang says he cannot wait to race in Lausanne, Switzerland on July 10, a venue he considers to be his "lucky track".
"I love competing in Lausanne. It's such a nice place for me and I always feel happy to be there. The weather also helps me to race my best," Liu told Xi'an Evening News before leaving for Europe on Monday.
Two of Liu's most memorable achievements happened in Lausanne.
On July 2, 2002, the then 19-year-old Liu ran a time of 13.12 seconds to break the 24-year world youth record.
Four years later, and already with the Athens Olympic gold medal under his belt, he broke the world record with a time of 12.88 seconds.
Liu's coach Sun Haiping believes July 10's IAAF Grand Prix in Lausanne could see the fastest time of the season.
"Liu's first race is on July 6 in Paris Golden League. We only have three days to adjust to the time difference. So I think a time under 13.20 will be a good result.
"But the competition on July 10 in Lausanne will be the most important one for him. I think he will be in his best shape then.
"Furthermore, Liu likes this race so much and it is likely he will race around 12.90."
The in-form star, who has won five out of six international tournaments so far this season, clocked the season's best time of 12.92 seconds in New York earlier last month, making him the only person on the planet to go sub-12.94 four times.
But both Liu and Sun said it was too early to expect another new world record in Lausanne.
"It is hard to predict. It is up to his own form and also other external conditions," Sun said.
Liu denied previous reports about his determination to break the record again, saying his primary target is to win.
"I have never said that I will break the record this summer or in the Osaka World Championships. Maybe 12.88 is my ultimate time. It is so hard to go beyond the time.
"Right now, I will try to win every race and run within 13 seconds as many times as possible."
After races in Paris and Lausanne, Liu will wrap up his Europe tour in the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield, UK on July 15th.
"The three races are important warm-ups for August's world championships in Osaka, Japan. So the top priority for Liu is to avoid injury," Sun added.
(China Daily 07/04/2007 page22)
