Eric Liddell

Member Note

Eric Liddell was a track and field athlete representing Scotland in the 1924 Olympics held in Paris, France. Liddell was the son of Protestant missionaries to China, where he was born. In the 1924 games, Liddell planned to run the 100 meter dash as his best event, but as a devout Christian, he felt he could not run when the game was scheduled on Sunday. Instead, he ran and took a gold medal for the 400-meter race, and a bronze medal for the 200-meter race.¹

After the Olympics, Liddell served as a missionary to China until he was captured by the Japanese and interred as a prisoner of war where he died in 1945.²

Liddell's life was described in the movie Chariots of Fire.³

Fast Facts

1. Born: January 16, 1902 Tiajin, China³
2. Died: February 21, 1945, north China
3. Spouse: Florence Mackenzie³
4. Educated: University of Edinburgh, BS in Pure Science³
5. Liddell was known as "The Flying Scotsman"¹
6. Events: 100, 200,and 400 meter dash¹
7. Served as missionary to China: 1925-1943³
8. Liddell was captured by the Japanese in 1943 and placed into an internment camp, where he died two years later²

Quotations

"God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure." ⁴

"The secret of my success over the 400m is that I run the first 200m as fast as I can. Then, for the second 200m, with God's help I run faster."¹

Related Pages on Mahalo

Olympics History | Christianity | World War II | China Christians | Chariots of Fire

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