DALIAN, Northeast China -- "It's possible for anyone to win gold at Beijing Olympics", said US 110-meter hurdler David Oliver in northeast China's Dalian city where he is practcing for the upcoming Beijing Olympics on Monday.
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David Oliver of the US wins the men's 110m hurdles during the London Grand Prix athletics event at Crystal Palace in London July 25, 2008. [Agencies]
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After a two-hour training session at Dalian University on Monday morning, Oliver said there will be a strong field in the 110-meter hurdles and everyone has a shot at the title.
"Everyone wants a gold at Olympics, I am here for anything less", he said.
Defending champion Liu Xiang of China and world record holder Dayrion Robles from Cuba are considered two favorites for the title, but Oliver dismissed the idea that the gold surely come up between the two.
"Everything could happen at Olympics, no one knows what will happen until the point", said Oliver. "It has no bearing on what will happen at Olympic games no matter what you have done before at Olympic games", he added.
It's the first time for Oliver to take part in Olympics, but the 26-year-old guy has gained for himself a string of victories since 2006.
At the Berlin ISTAF Golden League meet last September, he defeated many of the world's biggest names in the 110-meter hurdles.
Those big names include 1996 Olympic gold medalist and multi world champion Allen Johnson, 2006 NCAA Outdoor champion Aires Merritt, Cuban record holder Dayrion Robles, 2006 European champion Stanislav Olijars and 2006 Commonwealth Games champion Maurice Wignall.
In 2008, Oliver completed a sweep of the US indoor and outdoor titles in the event, and beat two-time Olympic silver medalist Terrence Trammell at the Olympic Trials in Eugene.
Oliver seems quite clear about what should be done before and at the games. "The biggest competitor (for me) should be myself, I just stick to my own strategy and try to get the job done", he said.