GUANGZHOU: Liu Bo, husband of Olympic judo champion Xian Dongmei, said watching his wife win gold in the 52 kg class at the Beijing Games was one of the proudest moments of his life.

"Although I had every confidence in my wife's ability to win, I was really nervous on Sunday night when I watched the live broadcast with my daughter," he said.

"But when I saw her on the podium, I was so excited I had tears in my eyes."

Liu Bo hoists his 2-year-old daughter Liu Jiahui for a clear view of her mom Xian Dongmei winning gold on Sunday August 10 2008. [China Daily]

The fact that he gets so nervous and excited is the reason he never goes to watch his wife compete, he said.

"If I was there, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from shouting, and that would put more pressure on her," he said. "So it's better that I stay away."

Liu said he met Xian when they were training partners. He said he fell in love after she repeatedly pinned him to the judo mat. They were married in October 2004.

These days, he is happy to take a back seat in the relationship and watch his wife succeed, he said.

His job is looking after the couple's baby daughter, Liu Jiahui, who was born last year, he said.

"It is not important for us both to be successful at judo," he said. "I'm happy caring for my daughter."

The one thing Liu said he does wish for, however, is his family to soon be reunited.

Gold medal winner Xian Dongmei of China holds her medal on podium during the judo women's -52 kg category medal ceremony at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, August 10, 2008. [Agencies]

"We've been separated for over a year. It's time our daughter had her mother around so she can enjoy her love."

Xian left the couple's Guangzhou home to join an Olympic training camp last August. Over the past 12 months, the judo champion has been able to watch her baby grow only via webcam.

Liu said he will give Xian roses when she returns home, which he hopes will be the final time she does so.

"It's not easy for her trying to juggle being both a mother and an Olympian. She had to lose 11 kg in just four months to make the weight for the 52 kg class."

Xian actually did retire from competitive judo in 2005, after the 10th National Games, and took over as coach of the Guangdong women's team.

However, in 2007, just two months after she gave birth to a daughter, she was persuaded by the Guangdong sports administration to make a comeback and try out for the Beijing Olympics.