'Liu's strength is his technique'

Like a fine craftsman, China's Liu Xiang has become the world's master hurdler because of his skill, not natural speed, former world record holder Renaldo Nehemiah says.

Like a fine craftsman, China's Liu Xiang has become the world's master hurdler because of his skill, not natural speed, former world record holder Renaldo Nehemiah says.

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"He's probably the finest technician in the past 10 years," said Nehemiah, who held the 110-metres hurdles world record for eight years in the 1980s.

"The obstacle itself (the hurdle) is not an obstacle for him."

Liu's near-record run of 12.87 seconds at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon last week reinforced that notion, Nehemiah said.

"I watched that race over and over again," said the American athletics Hall of Famer. "He barely clipped (hurdle) number nine. He was just so clean."

Fastest run
Liu would have tied Cuban Dayron Robles' world record except for an assisting wind over the allowable for record purposes. Wind or no wind, the time still equalled the fastest ever run. Yet, Liu is not super-quick.

"Robles has more speed. If they ran a 100 metres, Robles would win eight out of 10."

But Liu's skill in clearing the hurdles brings him equal with Robles, whose record is just 0.01 seconds faster than Liu's personal best. "He (Robles) is really quick over the top (of the hurdle). He is tall and big," said Nehemiah.

Surgery followed and the road back has been slow and painful.

But Liu showed in May he was ready for another run at Olympic gold with his fastest time in five years.