Beijing - Liu Xiang pulled out of the Olympic 110m hurdles race because of an exacerbated tendon injury in his right foot on Monday morning, dashing China's only gold hope in Olympic track and field.

In the last heat of the first round, Liu quit after a false start gun sounded for Dutchman Marcel van der Westen. Liu then tore off the number off his leg and limped into the tunnel.

"Liu was depressed," said Chinese athletics head coach Feng Shuyong. "He was very sad about this result.

"If his injury hadn't been so serious, he would never, ever have quit the race."

Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, couldn't control his emotion at a press conference held shortly afterwards, choking on every answer to reporters' questions.

"He has been fighting until the last moment," said Sun.

Feng, also deputy chief of the Chinese athletics administration, said that Liu Xiang's tendon injury, sustained six to seven years ago, worsened during Saturday's training.

"I know that kind of pain was unbearable."

Feng admitted Liu has been under great pressure as a Chinese sports icon.

"But he is a great athlete and very strong mentally," he said.

Feng said the Chinese people would understand Liu's decision to withdraw from the race.

Luo Ming, who calls himself "an avid Liu fan" and came from east China's Zhejiang province to watch Liu's first outing in the National Stadium, said she was shocked at Liu's sudden withdrawal but will always be a Liu supporter.

"I was stunned. I don't know what to say," said the 23-year-old accountant, who wiped tears off her heavily made-up face. "But I will always support him. He remains my biggest idol."

Rebecca Williams, an Olympic volunteer from Australia, said she felt sad for Liu and hoped the hurdler would succeed in his bid for a berth in the Athletes' Commission of the International Olympic Committee.

"We love you. We understand you. We support you. Please don't be sad," said a message posted by "Love Liu Xiang" on popular news portal Xinhuanet.com.