The 2008 TIME 100 Finalists

Read about the leaders, artists, enterpreneurs and thinkers who, in your opinion, deserve a spot on this year's TIME 100 —Scott Brown and Michelle Kung

LIU XIANG

Albert Gea / Reuters
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AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: Olympic hurdler
NUMBER OF TIME COVERS: 0
PREVIOUS APPEARANCES ON THE TIME 100: 0

PRO: As China's only "triple crown" athlete — meaning he's a concurrent world-record holder, world champion, and Olympic champion in the hurdles, Xiang is one of the faces of modern Chinese sports and a cultural ambassador to the rest of the world during the upcoming Olympics.

CON: A lot of pressure — personal and political — is riding on the lanky athlete's frame.

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