BEIJING — Liu Xiang and the entire nation of China looked forward to this moment for years: The defending Olympic champion lining up to race the 110-meter hurdles at the Beijing Games.

He didn't even get to race.

Liu, whose right hamstring has been bothering him, pulled up lame just steps into the first round of qualifying Monday, leaving the Summer Games' host country without one of its biggest stars — and far and away its biggest star in track and field.

He limped out of the block at the starting gun, took a few awkward steps, then pulled up when the second gun sounded to signal a false start. No one is disqualified by an initial false start, yet Liu tore the pieces of paper with his number off each leg and immediately headed for a tunnel.