 Off Track ..... Colin Jackson thinks Robles is unstoppable
(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-08-12 08:08
China's hope of taking one of the most coveted athletics golds is fading fast as Cuban 110m hurdler Dayron Robles looks unstoppable in the Beijing Olympic Games, former world record holder Colin Jackson of Britain said on Monday. A race between Robles and hometown favorite Liu Xiang was expected to be one of the best match-ups of the Olympics, but Robles, who broke Liu's world record in June, has run away from the pack while Liu has been inconsistent and has been struggling with minor injuries, Jackson said.
"I'll always look for Robles, with the times he's run this year, as consistent as he's been, as fluent as he's been," Jackson said. "I'd definitely call him the winner." Robles has clocked four of the world's top five times this year while Liu, the 2004 Olympics champion, cut his European campaign short, reportedly due to injury and has been out of sight recently. "He's obviously had a very hard time losing his world record, and there's immense pressure on him on his home turf," Jackson said. "This was the most exciting event, everybody in China and the world was looking forward to this." Although Robles has put together a solid season with a world record and several near misses, Jackson said he didn't expect more improvement from the Cuban. "I really think he's at the ceiling," Jackson said. "His leg speed is incredible, he maintains it very well, (and) how much more leg speed he can gain is a question, but I'd say not much." Agencies (China Daily 08/12/2008 page8) |
