Retired star hurdler Liu Xiang caused a stir on the Internet on Thursday by announcing on his micro blog that he had divorced his actress wife Ge Tian.

Liu, who won gold in the 110m hurdles at the 2004 Athens Olympics, said the couple had divorced just nine months after their wedding.

"Me and Ge fell in love with each other in May 2014 and got married in September," Liu said on his Weibo account. "Due to incompatibility in our personalities, we decided to end the marriage today, hoping we shall each have (a) more beautiful life in the future. We wish each other the best in the future."