They are rivals, both seeking gold at the Beijing Olympics, but American hurdler Allen Johnson and China's top athletics hope Liu Xiang are also friends.

"When I see him run well, I am genuinely happy for him, and I feel like when I run well, he is happy for me," Johnson, the 1996 Olympic gold medalist and seven-times indoor and outdoor world champion, said.

"We both respect and admire one another," Johnson said of the Chinese world record holder and 2004 Olympic champion whom he first met in 2001.

The language barrier prevents anything more than limited conversations, but there are other ways expressing their respect, Johnson, a three-times Olympian, said.

"There have been a couple of times I have been in races (with him) when I didn't run so well," the 37-year-old American said.

"He kind of patted me on the back like it was going to be all right. Don't worry about...