Two years ago when he first competed against American great Allen Johnson in an international event, Liu Xiang even sought for a signiture from his idol and never expected he could be a serious gold medal contender in the Olympic Games.

Now the Shanghai-born Liu is one of the world's best high hurdlers and Johnson's most threatening rival in next month's Athens Olympic Games.

The 21-year-old, the last year's bronze medalist in both indoor and outdoor world championships, clinched his first win over Johnson in the Osaka Grand Prix in May, where he clocked the world's season best and an Asian record of 13.06 seconds.

He went on to win two Johnson-absent races in Lille, France, on June 26 and Zagreb, Croatia, three days later. He put up an exicting show at the Golden Gala meet in Rome on July 3, when he and the four-time world champion Johnson clocked an identical time of 13.11. Race officials had to examine a photo finish to declare Johnson the winner.

Liu did a better job of clearing the hurdles than Johnson, but Johnson's stronger start ended up making the difference.

The race boosted Liu's optimism for the Olympics, although Johnson bettered his season best time by 0.01 second in Lausanne, Switzerland, on July 6.

"In Athens everything is possible, even beating Allen Johnson," Liu said. "I had the season best time of 13.06 against a head wind, and Johnson's in Lausanne was a wind-assisted time." He added that he feels no pressure one month before running in Athens.

"I know that a lot of people pin high hopes on me, but we cannot let heart rule the head. A string of hurdlers have the chance to win the gold."

The results in Rome have raised the nation's expectation that he is almost sure to win the gold medal in Athens.

Feng Shuyong, head coach of the Chinese national athletics team, poured cool water upon the Chinese fans, saying that Liu might let people down if given too much pressure.

Feng warned that it can do no good to Liu's preparation for the Olympics if the Chinese fans take it for granted that he can bring home the gold.

"He will face great challenges in Athens," Feng said. "His rivals are very strong."

Feng said that China had a lesson 20 years ago, when former world men's high jump record holder Zhu Jianhua failed to win the gold in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

"Zhu was put under too much pressure before the Olympic Games,"Feng said. "All the Chinese people thought he could win the gold."

Zhu, who broke the world record three times during the 14 months leading to the Los Angeles Games, finished third eventually, which was regarded as a fiasco by the Chinese fans.

He was criticized by the whole nation and never recovered from the loss, but his Asian record of 2.39 meters still stands firm.

"Actually, Zhu's bronze was a historical feat. He is still the only athlete from mainland China to win a track and field medal in the Olympic Games," Feng said.

"I hope that Liu can run inside 13.10 seconds in Athens. I think that time can earn him a medal."

Liu said that he will still have chances even he fails in Athens.

"I am very young. I can run in the 2008 Beijing Games and even the 2012 Games," he said.

Source: Xinhua