高中英语补充课外阅读材料(2)

　　高中英语补充课外阅读(三)

　　Eyes on the prize

　　ATHENS, Greece. August 28, 2004.

　　In the locker room, Liu Xiang waited for the final of the men’s 110m hurdles (男子110米栏) to be called.

　　He was doing exercises to relax his arms and legs. Everything was normal, except Liu wasn’t talking. Liu is usually a talkative (健谈的) guy, but on this day he wasn’t saying a word.

　　Only once did he speak, to his coach: "Could you give me some water?"

　　The time for the final arrived. The athletes went out to the track. An official came to pat Liu on the shoulder and said something to cheer him up. But Liu did not react (反应). It was as if the official wasn’t there.

　　What was wrong? Was Liu angry with someone?

　　There was nothing wrong. He wasn’t angry. It’s just he was trying to focus all his attention on the competition.

　　"I told myself not to look at or listen to anyone. I would just concentrate (专注) on myself. All I was thinking about was the competition. I tried to gather all the power of my body to one point," Liu said afterwards (事后) .

　　"When I finally got on the track I was so full of energy that I thought I was going to blow up (爆炸) ," he said later.

　　He said he saw neither the other competitors nor the audience.

　　"I stared (盯) at the hurdles, seeing only them. When the pistol fired, I rushed toward the hurdles. I overcame them one by one. I ran faster and faster. When I hit the finish line I felt I was almost flying!"

　　Concentration was decisive (决定性的) in winning Liu Xiang the men’s 110 hurdles championship at the Athens Olympics. He is the first Asian to win the gold medal in the event.