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China is rallying around fallen hurdler Liu Xiang after he failed last Wednesday to make it past the first-round heat for a second consecutive Olympics. |
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The sympathetic response was a stark contrast to the public outcry over his high-profile withdrawal from the Beijing 2008 Games. |
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上週三，跨欄選手劉翔在連續第二次參加奧運未能通過第一輪預賽之後，中國團結一致支持這位跌倒的選手。這種充滿同情的反應，和他在二００八年北京奧運高調退賽所引起的公眾憤慨實是強烈對比。 |
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Liu knocked over the first hurdle, injuring his right ankle and inflaming an Achilles tendon injury that ruined his medal ambitions at the 2008 Games. |
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Liu then hopped on his left foot down the remainder of the track in a symbolic completion of the race, pausing to kiss the final hurdle. |
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劉翔撞倒了第一個欄架，傷及右腳踝，害他在二００八年奧運摧毀奪牌野心的阿基里斯腱舊傷變得更嚴重。接著，劉翔以左腳跳完賽道全程，象徵性地完成比賽，並且停下來親吻最後一個欄架。 |
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"What Liu Xiang did today reflected the true Olympics spirit," said Feng Shuyong, the leader of the Chinese athletics team. |
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"Winning is not so important, participation is what matters." |
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「劉翔當天的所作所為詮釋了奧林匹克精神，」中國田徑隊領隊馮樹勇說：「獲勝沒那麼重要，真正重要的是參與。」 |
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"We've all seen how hard it is for him. |
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It is such a pity but his spirit is there," Feng continued. |
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"I think he made a lot of efforts over the past four years trying to do well. |
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But in competitive sports, anything can happen." |
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「我們都看到這對他而言有多麼困難。雖然令人遺憾，但他展現了他的精神，」馮樹勇接著說：「我認為他在過去四年來很努力要拿出好的表現。不過，在運動競賽中，什麼狀況都可能發生。」 |
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Local newspapers in cities across China carried Liu's story on their front pages, urging fans to support the athlete as he struggles to recover from injury. |
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"It is time for him to take a good rest," wrote the Chongqing Morning Post. |
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中國各個城市的地方報紙都在頭版刊登劉翔的新聞，敦促體育愛好者支持這位選手從傷痛中努力復原。「他該好好休息了，」《重慶晨報》寫道。 |
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China's sympathetic response this time around may be attributed to Liu's symbolic completion of the race, as well as the Olympics not taking place on Chinese home turf. |
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At 29, Liu is also not expected to compete in another Olympics. |
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中國這次的同情反應，也許可歸因於劉翔象徵性完成比賽的舉動，也可能是因為這次的奧運不是在中國的地盤上舉行。一般也認為二十九歲的劉翔不會再參加下一屆奧運。 |
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