Liu Xiang's shock withdrawal from the men's 110m hurdles with an Achilles tendon injury has deprived an expectant China of seeing its most iconic sportsman in action.
   
The defending Olympic and world champion pulled up in his first heat on Monday, the Chinese team's head coach Feng Shuyong later revealing that the hurdler had aggravated the heel injury in training on Saturday.
   
Liu became China's first male Olympic champion in athletics when he tied Colin Jackson's world mark of 12.91sec to win the 110m hurdles final at the Athens Games in 2004.
   
Liu's Olympic victory in Athens four years ago heralded unbridled opportunities for the hurdler and he has cashed in on his fame to become a popular pitchman and a millionaire in his own right.
   
He adorns outdoor advertising boards, promoting everything from cigarettes and soft drinks to clothing - and can incite a near-riot by appearing in public.
   
With 91,000 fans packed into the National Stadium on Monday, Liu had been expected to breeze through his heat in his bid to become only the third man to win two successive 110m titles after Americans Lee Calhoun (1956-60) and Roger Kingdom (1984-88).
   
But one false start by Qatari Mohammed al-Thawadi later, and Liu - without attacking a hurdle in anger - had ripped off his lane stickers and made a sharp exit from the stadium, to the dismay of the huge crowd and 1.3 billion compatriots.
   
Liu, who lost his world record to Cuban favourite Dayron Robles in June, was described by head coach Feng as being able to withstand the intense pressure he comes under on a daily basis.
   
"Liu Xiang is a great athlete. He stands the pressure like no other athletes can simply stand," Feng said of the Shanghai-born athlete who was recruited into a specialist sports school at the age of 12.
   
"We didn't realise the injury was so serious and that it would cause the problem it did today.
   
"Everyone expected him to go well, as well as he did in Athens.
   
"I think the Chinese people will understand the situation and will enncourage him to come back to the track and perform well."
   
Liu's coach and mentor for the last 12 years, Sun Haiping, broke down during the press conference to explain Liu's withdrawal, repeatedly bursting into tears and clutching his face.
   
Liu had chosen to stay away from a series of track and field meetings in Europe that served as warm-ups to the August 8-24 Games.
   
His last international race was at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon in May, when he was disqualified for a false start.
   
His recent Olympic preparations were also troubled by a hamstring injury his coaches insisted had cleared up.
   
"He has been fighting and fighting until the last moment," said the teary Sun.
   
"The heel injury has been back and forth between intensive training and rest and this is the main problem."
   
Feng added: "He has taken effective measures and until Saturday he was in great shape.
   
"Today's results is not perfect, especially for Liu Xiang. There is great expectation and a great pressure from all.
   
"He arrived at the track with the greatest will and he wanted to compete. Liu would not pull out unless the pain was intolerable."