A relaxed Liu Xiang prepares rigorously for the Games

(BEIJING, January 3) -- On the set of "Guan Jun Fang Tan," an online interview program on China Interactive Sports, guests Liu Xiang and his coach, Sun Haiping, chatted with web users Thursday afternoon.

For Liu, the 2004 Olympic gold medalist in the 110m hurdles, competing in the Olympics is not much different from competing in the World Championships or any other competition. "It's just that the Olympics only come once every four years, and add to that the international aspect of the competition, so every country places great importance on them," he said.

"But in my heart, they're all the same," he added.

Coach Sun Haiping expressed agreement. Although Sun had hoped at first that the competition would come and go sooner, now "I see it as another competition, and that's all," he said.

Nevertheless, training is still very rigorous in preparation for the Games. In Liu's own words, "Athletes must give their all to prepare for the Olympic battle in 2008."

Liu denied, however, that his coach is particularly tough on him. "We have quite a good deal of leisure and freedom," he said.

To this Sun added, "When it's time to train, they train; when it's time to relax and rest, they relax and rest."