Robles proves his domination on hurdles without Liu Xiang

世界纪录保持者、古巴名将罗伯斯２１日晚在“鸟巢”以巨大优势赢得北京奥运会男子１１０米栏比赛冠军，成绩为１２秒９３，未能打破刘翔在雅典奥运会上保持的１２秒９１的奥运会纪录。

The Cuban Dayron Robles lived up to the overwhelming favourite on hurdles, as he breezed to snatch the Olympic title after the early exit of China's Liu Xiang, his top opponent.

Robles was quickly into his stride and smooth rhythm, not grazing a single hurdle as he coasted across the line in 12.93 seconds.

The 12.93 effort was not record-breaking, but was enough to slake the thirst of the 21-year-old for an Olympic gold. After a 2-2 in head-to-heads with Liu in the 110 meters hurdles in 2007, and shaving Liu's world record of 12.88 seconds by one hundredth of a second this June, an Olympic gold is badly needed by Robles, who was eager to improve his domination on hurdles.

Liu Xiang, China's top gold hope on track, also the nation's sports icon pulled out of the race over the Achilles tendon injury before his first heat. Although American hurdles still posing threat, Robles made himself seemingly the unrivalled for the title before the final heat.
"I'm happy. I'm champion. I'm ecstatic. It's always been my dream." said Robles right after the race, wearing his trade-mark spectacles and a huge gold crucifix around his neck.

At the press conference held hours after the race, the new champion, however, said after the crowning moment, he was not euphoric by any means yet, which was something he found it hard to put into words.

"This has involved a tremendous sacrifice and you also suffer in addition to the sacrifice." he said.

"It's always tough for an athlete to drop. Injury is something common for a hurdler." he said about Liu's exist, noting they were good friends.

"Liu has always been a great competitor and athlete and you can feel it when he's on the track with you. I wish him speedy recovery." he said.Comparing with the 25-year-old Liu, Robles appeared less mentally-tough in big events in their previous bouts. At the 2008 World Indoor Championships in Valencia, he didn't advance from the heats due to fact that he stopped running, thinking that Liu Xiang had made a false start.

This was great disappointment for Robles, who had posted 9 of the 11 fastest times of the winter season and was a favourite for winning the gold medal.

In Beijing, it seemed that he had learn to shrug off the stage fright and run in an composed but brisk manner. "I've been very calm since these Olympic Games began. I've tried to be as relaxed as possible. I'm still very calm now. " he said at the press conference.

"I'm 21 years old and I'd like to last until 36 or 37 years of age, like Colin Jackson and Alan Johnson. That's my dream." he said, obviously expecting more to come.

虽然中国选手刘翔１８日在北京奥运会该项目第一轮预赛中因伤退赛，但在２１日晚缺少刘翔的男子１１０米栏决赛前，“鸟巢”观众竟大声呼喊“刘翔加油”。

这一项目的第二、第三名均为美国选手：大阪世锦赛季军戴维·佩恩以１３秒１７摘得银牌，这也创下了他本赛季的最好成绩。美国人戴维·奥利弗则以１３秒１８获得铜牌。

男子１１０米栏的世界纪录是罗伯斯在２个月前创下的，为１２秒８７，比刘翔此前保持的世界纪录快０．０１秒。