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China's greatest track and field athlete Liu Xiang officially announced his retirement on Tuesday, with the injury-plagued Athens 2004 gold medal winner saying he had "no choice" but to bring down the curtain on his trailblazing career.
"From today, I will end my life as a professional athlete and retire formally," the 110m hurdles star said in an online post.
This is a decision made after long deliberation. I am deeply reluctant and feel pained, but I have no choice
Liu Xiang
"This is a decision made after long deliberation. I am deeply reluctant and feel pained, but I have no choice," he added, on his verified account on Sina Weibo, China's version of Twitter.
Liu wrote in a lengthy statement on his microblog titled "My Track, My Hurdle" that he was "truly unwell and old and can no longer run and jump with you".

The 31-year-old's retirement is likely to spark an outpouring of emotion from Chinese sports fans, despite the news being widely expected, particularly after reports last week that an announcement was imminent.
The Shanghai-born athlete has become loved for his heart-breaking setbacks as well as his achievements after he burst onto the scene in Athens to claim China's first men's track and field gold.
Following that victory, Liu was hotly tipped to take gold in front of a jubilant home crowd at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, but limped out of the first heat, shocking tearful fans at the Bird's Nest stadium.
Liu suffered another agonising exit at London 2012, clattering into the first hurdle in his opening heat. After being helped up, he hopped the length of the track before symbolically kissing the last barrier and exiting the Olympic arena.
Liu will be remembered in China as the man who proved that Asian athletes can compete with the world's best in sprint sports, particularly when he was on world-beating form ahead of Beijing 2008.

He arrived at the Games after breaking the world record with a time of 12.88 seconds in 2006, and winning the world title in 2007.
His coach Sun Haiping was quoted in Chinese media last week that he was "preparing" to retire, fuelling speculation that he would finally draw the curtain on a remarkable career.
In his retirement statement, Liu looked back with "reluctance" to the pivotal Beijing Olympics, when his career began to be severely affected by a right Achilles tendon injury.
Achilles injuries are difficult to heal, and many sprinters never return to their previous best.

"I dreamt about raising the [Chinese] flag," he said, "But the injuries started to torture me just before the race."
"Why did I let the Chinese people down?", he added.
Over his career, he became one of China's highest-earning sports stars, joining the elite ranks of former NBA star Yao Ming and tennis champion Li Na.
On his future, Liu, who began hurdling at the age of 13, said he planned to "begin a new journey" by completing his education, and hoped to contribute to Chinese sports development, and increase China's international influence in the athletics world.
Liu had already announced he did not expect to compete at the world championships in Beijing in August, although he said he hoped to "take part in the event in another role".
Last month, he appeared at a promotional event for the competition but left without speaking to the media.
Agence France-Presse, Associated Press


Star China athlete Liu Xiang confirms retirement

Liu Xiang's injuries over the years proved too much for the Chinese star who has announced his retirement from competition. Photo: EPA

Liu Xiang's greatest moment of triumph was winning gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics. Photo: AP

Liu Xiang falls during his heat at the 2012 London Games. Photo: AP

Liu Xiang limped out of his heat at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Photo: AP

Sport

China

Injury-plagued 110-metre Olympic champion hurdler has 'no choice' but to end his sporting career


China's greatest track and field athlete Liu Xiang officially announced his retirement on Tuesday, with the injury-plagued Athens 2004 gold medal winner saying he had "no choice" but to bring down the curtain on his trailblazing career.
