After week-long visit, Liu plans to have Achilles surgery in U.S.
BEIJING -- Liu Xiang, the 2007 world champion in the 110-meter hurdles, will have surgery in the United States on an Achilles injury that denied him the chance of defending his Olympic title on home soil, local media reported on Friday.
The former world-record holder has spent the past week in the United States seeking advice on the injury.
Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, who previously said surgery would be a last resort, was convinced by U.S. medical experts that an operation was both necessary and safe.
"We were less worried about the operation after hearing the experts' advice. They all said it wouldn't be very difficult," Sun told state television after returning from the United States.
"Also, the three calcifications between his bone and tendon could not be removed in any other way but through surgery," Sun said, showing scans of Liu's foot.
Liu hobbled out of the Bird's Nest stadium with the injury shortly before his opening heat at the Beijing Games.
The 25-year-old Athens Games gold medalist has since been treated with traditional Chinese medicine and massage therapy.
Sun did not say how long Liu's recovery time would take, but confirmed the athlete would have the operation in the United States.
The coach last week said Liu might also need psychological help to deal with the memory of his dramatic exit from the Beijing Games.
