World 110m Hurdles record holder Liu Xiang of China will compete in the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield, UK. This IAAF Grand Prix status meeting within the IAAF World Athletics Tour takes place on Sunday 15 July 2007 in the city's Don Valley stadium.

 

Liu Xiang won gold at the Athens Olympics in 2004, and has since become a huge sporting celebrity in his native China. The fame of this Shanghai athlete increased last summer when he set the outright World record in the 110m hurdles of 12.88 seconds bettering the mark (12.91) which he previously shared with Britain's greatest ever hurdler, Colin Jackson.

 

"The race at the Norwich Union British Grand Prix in Sheffield is very important to me. I want to be running well ahead of the World Championships (in Osaka, Japan 25 Aug to 2 Sep 2007) so my aim is to be in good form then."

 

"The next two years are very important to me, especially with the (2008) Olympics in Beijing in front of my home crowd."

 

"I have already won Olympic gold, now it would be my dream to win the World title. Hopefully I can kick start success with a strong performance in Sheffield."

 

Liu Xiang last competed in the UK in 2003, in Gateshead, having taken bronze over the 60m Hurdles at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham that winter.

 

"This is my first visit to Sheffield, I want to perform well in front of the British people and I am looking forward to running there," the Olympic champion added.

 

(China Daily via IAAF April 13, 2007)