The Weight on Liu Xiang's Shoulders

By now, the Chinese public must have at least reached the "bargaining stage" in the fives stages of grief over the early exit of Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang from the Olympics on Monday.

Liu Xiang walks off the Men's 110m Hurdles Heats at the National Stadium in Beijing on August 18. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Much has been written about the disbelief and anger of Chinese bloggers over Liu's departure from the field before he was set to race in the 110-meter hurdles due to an inflamed Achilles' tendon and a bone growth on his right heel.

Some harsher critics have said it was fear that led him off the field. Others have actually accused him of faking his injury and giving up. Bloggers have also expressed anger that he did not at least acknowledge his fans when he left the stadium. (Beijing communications consultant Kaiser Kuo has some interesting thoughts on using blogger comments as a dipstick of Chinese sentiment here.)

But just a day later, the country seems to have softened. A poll by the Chinese social-networking Website Xiaonei found that an overwhelming number sympathized with the 25-year-old athlete who literally jumped to stardom when he won China's first track and field gold medal in the 2004 Olympics in Athens.

Liu's sponsor, Nike, took the lead in this regard by launching a print, broadcast, and Internet campaign using Liu's far-from-unattractive face with the following words in Chinese next to it:

An ad featuring Liu Xiang. (Andrew Wong/Getty Images)

Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping even issued a statement yesterday expressing sympathy for Liu, saying: "We hope he will relax and focus on recovery. We hope that after he recovers, he will continue to train hard and struggle harder for the national glory."

In an open letter to the public today, Liu expressed his disappointment at not being able to compete and vowed that he will compete faster in the future. But the end of his letter, translated here by the New China News Service (Xinhua) is telling, and like the Nike ad said, a bit heartbreaking. It reads:

"...As I won more titles and received more attention and support, I've also felt growing pressure and disturbances in my life. I cannot go partying like other people of my age, and I can feel the expectations of the whole nation in every minute. I know everyone was keenly expecting me to run yesterday. I wanted, as much as you did, to cross the finish, a scene you have already got used to. But my feet... Please believe me. The sadness and pain I have been through are never less than yours. Please believe me. I am still the same old Liu Xiang you have known."

Let's hope sports fans start moving into the last stage of grief over Liu's disappointing exit: Acceptance. Acceptance for who Liu is -- A human being, with extraordinary gifts.