With the London 2012 Olympics in full flow, I thought I’d do a post on one of my heroes and a man who was a true champion – both at the Olympics and for God – Eric Liddell.
Eric Liddell is best known as ‘the man from Chariots of Fire’ (cue slow running) but there was much more to him than that!
Eric was born in China in 1902, the son of missionaries. He and his brother, Rob, went to boarding school in England while their parents and sister continued missionary work in China (when their parents came home to see them, the family lived in Edinburgh, Scotland).
In 1920, Eric joined Rob at Edinburgh University and studied Pure Science. He graduated following the 1924 Paris Olympics. He and Rob were excellent sportsmen and Eric played Rugby for Edinburgh University and played seven times for Scotland. He also ran the 100 and 220 yards for Edinburgh University, Scotland and Great Britain.
He greatest fame came at the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He was due to run in the 100 and 200 metres. However, Eric refused to run on a Sunday – and there heats of the 100 metres were on a Sunday – there was a problem!
So he chose to run the 200 and 400 metres instead. (Can you imagine Usain Bolt deciding to run the 400 metres instead of the 100 metres because of faith reasons?! That would be some story!)
Incredibly, not only did Eric win a bronze in the 200 metres, he won the GOLD in the 4oo metres! Here’s the video of him doing so (there’s no sound – it was 1924!).
[tentblogger-youtube fRdrtp5YAxU]
Following the Olympics and graduation, and at the top of his sporting form, he decided to follow in his parents footsteps and returned to North China as a missionary! In 1932, during a short break back in the UK, he was ordained as a Minister.
Back in China, in 1934, he married Florence Mackenzie (the daughter of Canadian missionaries). They had three daughters; Patricia, Heather and Maureen, who live in Canada.
With the coming of WWII, life for missionaries in China got very dangerous. In 1937 he joined his brother Rob (a Doctor) at a mission camp in Xiaochang, China. In 1941 the British Government advised British nationals to leave. At that point, Florence and the children returned to Canada – but Eric stayed.
In 1943 the camp was captured and taken over by the invading Japanese army and Eric, and the other missionaries, were interned in Weishien (prisoner of war) camp. He became a leader in the camp, settling disputes and teaching Bible classes.
In 1945 Eric thought he was suffering from a nervous breakdown. However, he was suffering from an inoperable brain tumour. He died on 21 February 1945, aged 45, five months before liberation.
In 2008 the Chinese authorities revealed that he turned down an opportunity to leave the camp, giving it to a pregnant woman instead. The information was released near the time of the 2008 Beijing Olympics by the Chinese government and it was even unknown to his family.
So as you’re watching the athletes at the 2012 London Olympics, remember and give thanks to God for the unsung champions who work for Him everyday in dangerous places all over the world!
You can find out more about Eric Liddell and the work he has inspired at The Eric Liddell Centre.
[Image via The Eric Liddell Centre]
Adam Shields says
you might be interested that Eric Liddell’s book Disciplines of the Christian Life is free from christianaudio.com this month
http://christianaudio.com/free
I haven’t read it but it is a classic.
James Cooper says
Thanks Adam, I’ll check it out!