Chinese celebrity hurdler Liu Xiang said on state television that he feels "very sorry" for his injury-forced withdrawal from the Olympic Games and vowed he will come back.
"So many people have been worried and caring about me. I feel sorry. I could do nothing but pull out of the race," Liu told Chinese state television CCTV Monday night, which aired a partial interview with Liu Tuesday morning.
Liu, world and Olympic champion, pulled out of the 110m hurdles qualifying heats because of a worsened tendon injury in his right foot, dashing China's only gold hope in Olympic track.
"I didn't feel right when I was warming up before the race," said Liu. "I knew my foot would fail me. I felt painful when I was just jogging," said Liu.
"Two weeks ago, I ran a 12.90-something. I didn't know why things turned out this way. I wanted to hang on. But I couldn't. It was unbearable. If I had finished the race, I would have risked my tendon. I could not describe my feeling at that moment."
Liu said he is a man who never easily quits.
"I am not that type of person. I never quit easily. I believe I will come back," said Liu.