HE became China's first-ever Olympic gold medallist in athletics when he won in Athens. Aged 21, he also became a national hero.
Four years on and there is a growing desperation for Lui Xiang to successfully defend the 110m hurdles on home territory in Beijing.
His face adorns countless magazine covers, and anyone who buys any of the publications should prepare themselves
for a lengthy transaction as the female shopkeepers swoon. So pity anyone who actually relieves their hero of his title and a nation of their high hopes.
While the real Lui Xiang has been kept hidden away, cocooned in the General Sports Administration HQ, a vast campus in southern Beijing, where many of China's top sportspeople have been training for years, at the Madame Tussauds museum in Shanghai, his waxwork model has been decked out as a Beijing Olympic gold medal winner.
Sheltered from the hype up until now, he will have to face it head on over the next few days. Starting his defence of the 110m hurdles in the Bird's Nest Stadium today, alongside him was Allan Scott. The Scottish hurdler said the rest of the field had been well primed what to expect. "We all know he has cult status and while you have to go out there and try to focus on doing your own thing, I think we know we are part of something special because Lui Xiang is in our event and they seem to love him here. That's something that's totally amazing."
"I think it will be a bit of a production," added the 25-year-old from Bellshill. "One of the American hurdlers was saying he is being stopped by people wanting to have their photo taken with him because they know all about our event because of Lui Xiang."
The man in question was David Oliver, the guy who has set the second fastest time this year – 12.95secs – and the only athlete other than Dayron Robles to dip below the 13-second mark in 2008. One of the contenders for gold, he could probably walk down most American streets without being recognised, which underlines the passion and knowledge in the sport Lui Xiang has sparked.
The Chinese hero has struggled for form and with injury but having wrapped him in cotton wool and prepared his training so he can peak in the Bird's Nest Stadium, his coach Sun Haiping is hoping he can deliver when it matters. Provided the pressure does not drain him.
"Although he hasn't said as much, I am still concerned that he is coming under too much pressure. He behaves in a relaxed way though. I hope that is not just to make me and the other people around him feel better."
Scott, who is hoping to secure a place in the final, says it is almost impossible to predict who will take the gold.
"It's clear Robles' times are fast but I would never rule Lui Xiang out," he said. "He is the one who has performed under pressure before."
But he has never had to do it with the expectations of a nation which absolutely worships him on his shoulders before. Scott, along with everyone else, will watch and wait to see whether he ends the Games the living embodiment of that Madame Tussauds statue or whether he melts under the pressure.
The full article contains 569 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
