2005 Notre Dame alum Selim Nurudeen has advanced to Wednesday's semifinals of the 100 meter hurdles at the London Olympics but it was another competitor in the same race that may have been the story of the entire Olympics so far.

Nurudeen ran the best race of his life with a personal best time of 13.51 seconds to finish 2nd in the 6th and final heat during Tuesday's prelims.

As Nurudeen raced for 2nd, China's Liu Xiang was on the ground in pain.

Xiang won Olympic gold in this very event in Athens in 2004. He was looking to repeat four years later in his home country but an injury stopped that from happen. Moments before the race, Xiang injured his Achilles and was unable to compete. His countrymen were in tears as Xiang withdrew from the race.

On Tuesday, Xiang was searching for redemption but he tripped over the first hurdle and immediately grabbed his right Achilles. Xiang hopped off the track on one leg unable to put pressure on that right Achilles. In an incredible act of determination, he turned around and hopped all 110 meters to symbolically finish the race.

Nurudeen is running for Nigeria.

Americans Jason Richardson, Jeff Porter and Aries Merritt all advanced as well.