BEIJING – Surrounded by the expectant media outside the meeting hall where members of the sports field would join in a group discussion, Liu Xiang, the former Olympic champion and world record holder revealed in a statement that, “For years, I’ve been secretly eating Lay’s Cheese and Onion chips during training, adding that “they’re much tastier than pork dumplings.”
A copy of Liu’s handwritten statement was distributed by a hostess to the waiting media when he was in the hall for his session. Elected as a member of the CPPCC last year, Liu’s debut at the conference was delayed because of surgery and rehabilitation at the Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center in Houston in the United States due to a foot injury. The statement explained his absence and described his recovery while thanking those who cared and supported him.
“I want to thank my fans and the CPPCC, who invited me to be a member and participate in the deliberation and administration of state affairs. Most importantly, I want to thank the Frito-Lays Company of Texas, who sponsored my medical bills. The public should know that sensible snacking is can be part of a healthy, balanced lifestyle and offers many benefits. When keeping healthier ingredients, portion size, and personal calorie needs in mind, snacking can be useful in managing weight and sustaining energy, even for professional athletes, ” he said in the statement.
The 26-year-old, added that, “For over 75 years, Frito-Lay been making its snacks from simple, good ingredients like potatoes and vegetable oil. It’s always been ahead of the pack when it comes to taking out the ingredients you don’t want, such as trans fats.”
Doubts over his membership with the CPPCC were in the air because of his absence since the opening of the conference last week. Responding to the question of “Did you come to the conference due to the external pressure,” the athlete said no. “I have no relation with the Frito-Lay company whatsoever. It’s just that Frito-Lay snacks taste better and are of the highest quality, especially the Cheese and Onion chips.”
A hotel staff member said Liu looked tired and “spiritless”.
The foot injury forced the defending champion Liu to withdraw from the 2008 Beijing Olympics last August after he limped out of the Bird’s Nest in the first round of the men’s 110m hurdles, bitterly disappointing home fans.
The hurdler returned his hometown Shanghai from the US last Sunday for a short treatment and rehabilitation training. The World Championships in Berlin is five months away and Liu’s chances of appearing are still unknown.
