Most Chinese athletes have returned home as the curtain has fallen on the 2012 London Olympics. One of them is Chinese hurdler Liu Xiang, who arrived in Shanghai on Tuesday morning. He will now continue recovering from surgery on his Achilles tendon - damaged during the 110-meter hurdles at the London Games.
The London flight arrived ahead of schedule at 9:17am. Liu Xiang got off the plane in a wheelchair, with his right foot in a cast. After the more than 10-hour flight, Liu still looked relaxed, and even joked about his operation.
"I'm all right, just have a scar now."
Liu Xiang was competing in the Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles at the London Olympic Games last week when he fell at the first hurdle in the first heat. Liu’s right Achilles tendon was found to be ruptured, and he had an operation in London before returning to Shanghai.
Liu Xiang, Olympic hurdler, said, "I've been taking some painkillers these days. The doctor told me to take them for three days after the operation. I should not feel any pain after a week. In two weeks, I can have the stitches removed. In a month, I can remove the plaster, and I can start running slowly in two months."
After he fell, Liu hopped on his left foot to the finish line, and kissed the final hurdle. One big question is whether Liu will be able to compete at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
"I haven't thought about it."
Liu Xiang did not go straight home from the airport, but headed for his training base in suburban Shanghai to begin the first phase of his recovery.