BEIJING, April 7 (Reuters) – China’s Olympic gold medal-winning hurdler Liu Xiang announced his retirement on Tuesday, ending a run in the sport marked by records and frustrated by continuous late-career injuries.

Liu, 31, became an idol in China after he won the country’s first Olympic men’s track and field gold medal in the 110 meters hurdles in Athens in 2004. He also won a world championship in 2007 and held the world record in 2006 with a time of 12.88 seconds.

“I’m retiring. I want to start a new journey,” Liu said in a message posted to his microblog, blaming injury for his decision. “Though I still have hot blood pumping through my heart, my leg has time and again told me no.”

One of China’s most popular athletes, his gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics brought him fame and fortune matched only by basketball player Yao Ming but also made his life more like that of a rock star and placed a huge burden of expectation on him.

Liu’s ambitions were checked when, despite being favorite to win his pet event in front of home fans at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, he was forced to pull out with a foot injury in his first-round trial race. Being the favorite sports star of many youngsters, his withdrawal was met with tears, anger and accusations that the athlete had let his fans down.

At the 2012 Olympics in London, Liu was disappointed again by injury, crashing out of competition after stumbling on the first hurdle and ending his hopes of regaining the Olympic title.

Liu’s retirement makes him the latest world class Chinese athlete to sign off from competition in recent years, after the country’s first grand slam tennis champion Li Na retired in September and former NBA basketball centre Yao Ming walked away from the sport in 2011. 

本时文内容由奇速英语国际教育研究院原创编写，禁止复制和任何商业用途，版权所有，侵权必究！

1.What made people begin to treat Liu Xiang as an idol?

A He appeared at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

B He won a gold medal in Athens in 2004.

C He won a world championship in 2007.

D He took part in the 2012 London Olympics.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。根据文章第2段Liu… became an idol in China after he won the country’s first Olympic …gold medal in the 110 meters hurdles in Athens in 2004可知，刘翔获得2004年雅典奥运会金牌之后成为人们的偶像。这是中国历史上的首枚田径金牌。

2.What can we infer from the message of Liu Xiang’s microblog?

A He held great enthusiasm in sports.

B He wanted to travel around the world.

C He would come back after he got recovered.

D He had to retire because of the foot injury.

解析：选A。A 推理判断题。根据文章第3段Though I still have hot blood pumping through my heart,my leg has time and again told me no可知，刘翔依然热爱着田径运动事业，对自己钟爱的体育项目充满激情。

3.Why did fans react strongly upon Liu Xiang’s withdrawal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics?

A He was sure to win the gold but he quitted the match.

B He was expected to win but withdrew in the trial match.

C His foot was injured and his fans felt disappointed.

D He quitted the competition and let his fans down.

解析：选D。D 细节理解题。根据文章第5段Being the favorite sports star of many youngsters, his withdrawal was met with tears, anger and accusations that the athlete had let his fans down可知，刘翔因脚伤退出比赛让粉丝们大为失望。

4.Why does the author mention other retired athletes in the last paragraph?

A To tell that they all retired because of physical injuries.

B To say that they all have made great achievements.

C To prove that they all had world fame.

D To warn that their retirements caused strong reactions of fans.

解析：选B。B 细节理解题。作者在文章最后1段介绍了李娜、姚明的退役，他们与刘翔一样都在自己的领域里取得了非凡的成就。

5.What can be the best title of the passage?

A Liu Xiang’s Withdrawal Caused Fans’ Strong Reaction.

B Liu Xiang Won A Gold Medal at Athens in 2004.

C Liu Xiang Announced Retirement for Foot Injury.

D World Class Athletes in China in Recent Years.

解析：选C。C 主旨大意题。通读全文可知，本文主要介绍了110米栏世界冠军刘翔退役的情况。