Robles gunning for Olympic title

Source: Agencies  |   2008-6-20  |     NEWSPAPER EDITION

TAKING the world record from Liu Xiang was one thing. Now Dayron Robles has to overcome his Chinese rival in the chase for the gold medal at the Beijing Olympics.

The Cuban athlete broke Liu's world mark in the 110-meter hurdles when he ran 12.87 seconds at Ostrava on June 12, compounding the pressure on the Olympic and world champion who is China's best hope for a track and field gold medal in Beijing in August.

"When you're the world record holder and somebody breaks it, it's a concern and it says of course your rivals are in great shape," Robles said on Wednesday. "Maybe Liu will have to reflect on that. He's certainly aware his strongest rivals for Beijing are in great shape.

"The sprint hurdles are at such a high level that any athlete could surprise us at any time in the season and break the record like I did last week."

Terrence Trammell, the world championship silver medalist, was second to Robles at Ostrava and is one of a handful of hurdlers who could qualify through the US Olympic trials and be medal contenders in Beijing.

Despite holding the record, the 21-year-old Robles insists he is surprised to have it so early in the season because he is still working on his speed and learning the art of hurdling. One of his most valuable lessons stemmed from his disappointing disqualification at the indoor world championships in Valencia in March, after he'd posted nine of the 11 fastest times of the indoor season.

"I learned many things from that," he said. Robles broke when he thought Liu had moved in the blocks at the start.

"I learned that every race needs very good if not perfect concentration - even in the qualifying rounds. You have to take every race as a world record race."

Robles said he had not spoken with Liu since taking his record at Ostrava, though they had a mutual friend who had passed on Liu's regards. And he saw a note of congratulations from Liu on a Chinese Website.

Despite the pressure on Liu from home and abroad, Robles still thinks the Chinese star remains favorite for Beijing.

"Four years ago when Liu Xiang won the Olympic gold in Athens, I was watching the race at home just after running at world juniors," he said. "I thought If I had a chance to run the Olympics in Beijing, I'm sure this guy would be hard to beat.

"I never thought I'd be where I am now. But...Liu is the top favorite, even if he doesn't have the record, he continues to be the main guy to beat."

Robles missed out on the medals at the last world championships, placing fourth behind Liu, Trammell and another American, David Payne, at Osaka last August.

Asked if he was afraid of Liu Xiang or had some kind of psychological problem in the big races. "No, no, impossible. I'm not afraid at all. I don't fear any man."