Liu Xiang is not the only athlete to have failed to shine at the Beijing Olympics for a variety of reasons.

Prior to Liu's demise, American high hurdler Terrence Trammell, who came second to Liu at both the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2007 World Championships, had to pull up in his heat due to a strained hamstring.

On Saturday night, sprinter Tyson Gay, a pre-Games favorite for the men's 100m, also made an early exit.

His time of 10.05 in the semifinal put paid to his anticipated showdown with Jamaican duo Usain Bolt and Asafa Powell.

Similarly, US world champion Bernard Lagat, who was chasing gold in both the 1,500 m and 5,000 m, was eliminated in the 1,500 m semifinals. He is yet to begin his challenge over the longer distance.

On Sunday, women's marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe's bid for Olympic glory also ended in disappointment, as the Briton could manage only 23rd place in the race won by Romanian Constantina Tomescu.

Radcliffe was visibly hampered by a thigh injury that she later said had almost prevented her from competing.

Chronology of injuries

Liu Xiang and Sun Haiping formed a formidable partnership in March 1993 as athlete and coach.

But in 2005 Liu was hit by the first in a series of injuries.

Feb 15, 2005: After an outdoor training session, Liu strains his left ankle while walking up a slope to his dormitory.

As it is his first injury he does not tell his coach, but instead applies an ice pack to his ankle.

The next day, the hurdler's injury gets worse, but an examination shows he has not suffered a fracture.

Feb 17, 2006: The National Indoor Athletics Championship organizing committee announces that Liu will not attend the event to be held in Shanghai, Liu's hometown, due to the ankle injury.

March 2006: Liu pulls out of the Moscow World Indoor Athletics Championship because of the same injury.

May 31: At the New York Reebok Grand Prix, to everyone's surprise, Li announces his withdrawal.

He apologizes to spectators.

This time, the reason for his pullout is a hamstring injury.

June 8: Liu is ruled out because a false start during the Eugene, Oregon event of the IAAF World Grand Prix.

July 25: At a ceremony marking the formation of the Chinese Olympic delegation, Liu says he is not suffering from any injuries and is training normally for the Olympic Games.

August 16: Liu enters the athletes' village together with his coaching staff and teammates.

Later in the day, Liu goes through a medical checkup, including an NMR scan.

The scan reveals a tendon injury.

Rumors began to circulate that the hurdler's hamstring injury, which has been bothering him for months, has deteriorated and will affect his performance in the Games.

Sporting highlights

Gold 2002 Asian Games (Busan) 110 m hurdles

Gold 2004 Olympic Games (Athens) 110 m hurdles

Gold 2006 Asian Games (Doha) 110 m hurdles

Liu Xiang set a new world record in the 110 m hurdles, at the Super Grand Prix in Lausanne on July 11, 2006, with a time of 12.88 seconds.

Gold 2007 World Championships (Osaka) 110 m hurdles

Gold 2008 World Indoor Championships (Valencia) 60 m hurdles

(China Daily)