A false start, a hobble and the face of China's athletics walked away from the Bird's Nest, shattering billions of people's dream.

Liu Xiang entered the track to cheers from flag-waving fans around 11:45 am. He took off his track jacket and walked to his lane. It was the last heats of the first round of the men's 110m hurdles.

Liu walked with a slight limp but stretched out his right leg, slipped into position and ran - but in pain - when there was a false start.

Liu Xiang of China warms up before the start of his 110m hurdles heat of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008. Liu failed to start his 110 metres hurdles first-round heat on Monday. [Agencies]

He then stood up and walked away in silence. The reason: injury in the Achilles tendon. He was too heartbroken to emerge in public again during the day.

There was silence and tears in the National Stadium, filled to a capacity 90,000 spectators.

The shock was all round. Disbelief, choked voices and damp eyes were the order of the moment. People who had gathered to watch the first appearance of their sports icon were numb for words.

Olympic champion Liu Xiang walks away after failing to start his 110 metres hurdles first-round heat of the athletics competition at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 18, 2008. After one false start Liu stopped before the first hurdle clutching his leg and then walked out of the stadium. [Agencies]

A couple from Qingdao sat alone in the stadium, refusing to leave even an hour after Liu's race had ended. They had small Chinese national flags stuck in their hair and red hearts painted on their faces. "I can't believe it," said the woman, Cao Li. "I hope he would return soon." Volunteers ultimately persuaded the couple to leave later.

But there was hope too, especially in Vice-President Xi Jinping's telegram to the General Administration of Sport to sympathize for Liu's pullout. State leaders are worried over his injury but hope he will recover soon, Xi said, encouraging Liu and his coach Sun Haiping not to lose heart.

Sun Haiping (R), coach of China's Liu Xiang, cries during a news conference with China athletics team's head coach Feng Shuyong at the National Stadium during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 18, 2008. [Agencies]