Liu Xiang on his way to 12.92 win in New York (© Victah Sailer)
Two of the standout international names on show this Friday at the Meeting Gaz de France Paris Saint-Denis (6 July), the second of six meetings of the IAAF Golden League 2007, will be female World Athlete of the Year, Sanya Richards of the USA (400m), and Olympic champion and World record holder Liu Xiang of China (110m Hurdles).
Yesterday (3) at a press conference to officially launch the meeting these visiting global stars spoke about their hopes for their competitions in the Stade de France on Friday.
Sanya Richards, who won a share of the $1 Million IAAF Golden League Jackpot last year and was one of the ten event winners in the opening meeting of the 2007 Jackpot campaign in Oslo, Norway on 15 June, confirmed that she was “looking forward to running in Paris a lot.”
The 22-year-old who has had a late start to the season due to illness, also reflected on her surprise fourth place at the 400m at the recent US Trials which means she has missed a place for that event on the national team at the 11th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Osaka, Japan, (25 Aug to 2 Sep).
The 2005 World 400m silver medallist confirmed, “I am going to give my best to the 200m in Osaka, and I hope to bring back a medal. But I am still very disappointed with my performance in the US Championships. I am sad not to have qualified for the 400m.”
As to this Friday’s race in Paris, “my legs feel ready and I want to win. Times are not my first priority, they will come later. First of all I want to win.”
And the World Cup 400m winner last year, a title she took in 48.70, making her the seventh quickest woman of all-time, also confirmed she had some extra motivation to succeed this week. Richards gave the example of the multiple World and Olympic champion, Marie-José Perec, and hopes to get the chance to properly meet the French 200m / 400m running legend while in the French capital.
“And here, I have another motivation. It is the presence of Marie-José Perec, I know that she will be there. She is a great athlete who I respect tremendously. I would very much like to meet her.” Perec ended her career as the third fastest runner of all-time – 48.25 – a time she clocked while winning the 1996 Olympic title.
Now while Richards is looking to meet an inspiration, Liu Xiang, the world’s best high hurdler is hoping to be an inspiration - if he isn’t already - for all Chinese athletes.
“I want to be an example for the Chinese athletes,” said the 23-year-old Liu Xiang. “Today, we know that it is possible to be Chinese and to be the best hurdler in the world. Before (his Olympic win and World records) it was impossible to think so. But with effort, everything is possible.”
The World record holder for the 110m Hurdles (12.88) has so far run three-times this season at the IAAF World Athletics Tour meets in Osaka (5 May), New York (2 June) and Eugene (10 June). Each of these competitive outings has ended in victory, and he currently heads the world season’s lists with his 12.92 second (1.5m/s wind) result in New York.
Shanghai’s Liu Xiang, the second highest paid sports and entertainment star in China, looks forward to running this Friday.
“In Paris, I always feel good. It is the sixth time I have come to France, and it is a habit now. I just want to make the best possible result and to improve my technique.”
“I consider Ladji Doucouré (France’s reigning World champion) to be my most dangerous opponent. I think that he has the same potential (to win) as me.”
Chris Turner for the IAAF