Liddell, Eric

(1902–45)

   Athlete and Missionary.

   Liddell was born in Tientsin, China, and was educated at the University of Edinburgh. He was an outstanding runner and an Olympic gold medallist. Subsequently he returned to China to join the staff of the Anglo- Chinese Christian College. He was interned by the Japanese during the Second World War and he died of a brain tumour in the inhumane conditions of the camp. He has become well known as a result of a highly successful film, Chariots of Fire. This tells the story of how he refused to run in the race for which he had trained because the race took place on a Sunday and he was a strong believer in Sabbath observance. In the event, another athlete offered to change places with him; he ran a much longer race, but virtue was rewarded and he won anyway.

   C. Swift, Eric Liddell: God’s Athlete (1986);

   D.P. Thompson, Eric Liddell: Athlete and Missionary (1970).