Liu Xiang is out.

    The Chinese sports superstar pulled out due to injury of the Olympic men's 110m hurdles race on Monday, just a day after the Olympic hosts ensured the Beijing Games would be the best ever as far as the number of golds it won is concerned.

    In the last heat of the first round, Liu quit after someone else false-started. He then limped out into the tunnel, leaving the 60,000-plus spectators at the Bird's Nest stadium and millions of home audience watching in front of television in shock.

China's Liu Xiang reacts prior to the first round competition of men's 110m hurdles at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. The defending champion Liu Xiang dropped out after getting injury. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Photo Gallery>>>

    "Liu was depressed," said Chinese athletics head coach Feng Shuyong. "He was very sad about the result."

    "If his injury hadn't been so serious, he would never, ever have quit the race."

    Liu's coach, Sun Haiping, couldn't control his emotions at a press conference held shortly afterwards, choking on every answer to reporters' questions.

    "He has been fighting until the last moment," said Sun.

Sun Haiping, coach of Chinese athlete Liu Xiang, speaks during a press conference after the men's 110m hurdles at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. The defending champion Liu Xiang dropped out after getting injury. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei) Photo Gallery>>>

    Even before the 110m race Liu was seen on television clutching his injured right foot after attempting just two hurdles during warm-up.

    Liu has been touted as an icon of China's sport since he equaled then world record of 12.91 seconds to win the 110m hurdles in Athens four years ago. He went on to break the world record by clocking 12.88 seconds at an IAAF meet in Lausanne, Switzerland in 2006, and grab his first ever world championship title in Osaka in 2007.

China's Liu Xiang (R) reacts on the starting line during the first round competition of men's 110m hurdles at the National Stadium, also known as the Bird's Nest, during Beijing 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. The defending champion Liu Xiang dropped out after getting injury. (Xinhua/Chen Kai) Photo Gallery>>>

    No other athlete has carried heavier burden of expectations into the Beijing Games than Liu. But the 25-year-old has been struggling with leg and tendon injuries since the beginning of this year, and the rise of a formidable rival - Cuban Dayron Robles - has made Liu's title-defending campaign even more arduous.

    Liu lost his world record to Cuban Dayron Robles, who finished a race in 12.87 seconds in June.

    Luo Ming, who calls herself "an avid Liu fan" and came from east China's Zhejiang province to watch Liu's first outing in the National Stadium, said she was shocked at Liu's sudden withdrawal but will always be a Liu supporter.

    "I was stunned. I don't know what to say," said the 23-year-old accountant, who wiped tears off her heavily made-up face. "But I will always support him. He remains my biggest idol."

    Most online messages were also sympathetic to Liu.

    "You are always our hero," said a message posted on the news portal Xinhuanet.com.

    "Take care of that tendon and thrill us again when you're fit."

    Earlier, Robles won his heat in 13.39 seconds to go through. Now he is the overwhelming favorite for the coveted gold.

    On a happier note, the Australian swept the first three gold medals contested on Day 10. Australia and Britain are now tied for third place in the medal table on 11 golds.

    China remains atop with 35 gold, three more than its total haul four years ago in Athens, and the United States is second on 19.

    Australia's Emma Snowsill , three-time world champion, ran away with the women's Olympic triathlon gold medal, with current world number one Vanessa Fernandes of Portugal taking silver and another Australian, Emma Moffett the bronze.

Emma Snowsill (C) of Australia, Vanessa Fernandes (L) of Portugal and Emma Moffatt of Australia attend the medal ceremony of Women's Final of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games triathlon event in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. Emma Snowsill, Vanessa Fernandes and Emma Moffatt won the gold, silver and bronze medal respectively. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

    Snowsill broke away from her Portuguese rival after the start of the 10km run, and she eventually finished just over a minute ahead in a time of 1 hour 58 minutes 27.66 seconds.

    The Australians then made a golden double in sailing with Nathan Wilmot and Malcolm Page winning the men's 470 sailing event and Elise Pechichi and Tessa Parkinson prevailing in the women's 470 competition.

    NBA star Yao Ming scored 18 points and grabbed five rebounds in 18 minutes but it was not enough to prevent China from losing 91-77 to Greece in its final Group B match of the men's basketball tournament.

Yao Ming (R) of China tries a jumper during the warm-up before Men's Preliminary Round Group B - Game 57 between China and Greece of Beijing 2008 Olympic Games basketball event at Olympic Basketball Gymnasium in Beijing, China, Aug. 18, 2008. Greece beat China 91-77. (Xinhua/Meng Yongmin)

    China, who finished fourth in the group, will face Lithuania in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

    There are 15 more golds at stake later in the day.