Editor’s note: We are pleased to bring our readers this reprint and translation from New Territory (JingJie). Eric Liddell’s Olympic victory is well-known and very inspiring, since he refused to compete on Sunday, yet still won the gold medal. The second half of his life, spent as a missionary in China, is even more inspiring. Despite the glory of his Olympic victory and his degree from the prestigious University of Edinburgh, Liddell followed God’s call to share the gospel in China.
Another Paris Olympics: Centennial Memorial of Eric Liddell, the First Olympic Champion Born and Die in China
JingJie Editor’s Note: The Oscar-winning film Chariots of Fire tells the story of Eric Liddell’s Olympic victory, yet it only covers the first half of his short 43-year life. The film On Wings of Eagles brings us the second half of Liddell’s life in China.
As the Paris Olympics heat up, July 26 marked a hundred years since a legendary runner at the Paris Olympics sacrificed his chance to compete in his best event, the 100-meter dash, for his faith. Instead, he took on the 400 meters and won the gold medal, also taking bronze in the 200 meters, creating an unparalleled legend.
This runner is the British athlete Eric Liddell. His story became widely known after the 1981 film Chariots of Fire, which won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Original Score. However, many are unaware that Liddell was the first Olympic champion to be born, to die, and be buried in China.
In 2016, Hong Kong director Stephen Shin’s film On Wings of Eagles was released in China. Chariots of Fire tells the story of Liddell’s Olympic triumph, his short 43-year life’s first half. On Wings of Eagles reveals Liddell’s surprising life choices post-Olympics: turning away from glory to serve in China, where he was later imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp during World War II, ministering to those around him.
Director Stephen Shin, who attended Christian schools in Hong Kong and later became a Christian, admitted, “Eric Liddell’s story moved me deeply, making me cry for five hours… I hope the film awakens reflection on life.”
“Those who honor me, I will honor”
The story’s protagonist, Eric Henry Liddell, born in Tianjin in 1902, was known in China as Li Airui (李爱锐). His father had come from Scotland to China as a missionary in the late nineteenth century. Eric, along with his family, was dedicated to serving God. He lived in China until he was five, before being sent back to Britain for schooling.
Liddell, a gifted runner from Scotland, ran only for God. In 1923, he won the national championship in London, and in 1924, he competed in the Paris Olympics. However, he refused to run the 100-meter race held on Sunday, dedicating the day to God. Despite strong opposition and accusations of betraying Scotland’s athletic spirit, Liddell stood firm.
At the critical moment, British teammate Lord Lindsay offered Liddell his place in the 400-meter race, which was not held on Sunday. Liddell trained intensely and ultimately won the gold medal, setting a world record.
Liddell’s refusal to compete on Sundays became a cherished story among Christians. He once said, “Don’t sell your Sunday for a good job.” When faith was threatened, Liddell chose to obey God rather than compromise with the world.
During the intense competition days in 1924, a British team masseur handed Liddell a note that he read in the locker room: “Those who honor me, I will honor” (1 Samuel 2:30). This Bible verse inspired Liddell, and he ran with renewed strength, winning the 400-meter race in 46.7 seconds and setting a world record.
After his Olympic victory, Liddell was highly respected in Britain. Despite bright career prospects and holding a chemistry degree from the University of Edinburgh, he chose to return to China in 1925, saying, “I am going to China to give my best for Christ.” He urged those in Britain to also fulfill their duty.
In Tianjin, Liddell became a teacher at the London Missionary Society’s Tientsin Anglo-Chinese College. He dedicated himself to serving China and God, believing it to be his God-given aspiration.
Liddell soon felt called to leave the comfort of city life and move into rural areas in Hebei, Shanxi, and Henan to preach the gospel. He was deeply respected in the missionary community in Tianjin, where he met and married Florence Mackenzie in 1934. They had two daughters, Patricia and Heather, who brought them great joy.
Love in the Darkest Corner of the Internment Camp
In 1941, shortly before Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, Liddell sent his wife and children to Canada for safety. He was later imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp in Weihsien (Weifang) in 1943, losing contact with his family. He never saw his youngest daughter, Maureen, born after his wife left China.
During his three years in the camp, Liddell never yielded to fear or despair. He filled the camp with love and joy, organizing activities for young people, comforting others, and sharing his faith. He even gave his shoes to a young Chinese boy, valuing people over gold medals.
Liddell’s final words were, “Complete surrender,” reflecting his lifelong dedication to God. He passed away on February 21, 1945, in the internment camp, at 9:20pm. His unwavering faith and love inspired many, even in the darkest times.
Chinese people remember Liddell as “The Olympic champion with a heart for China,” and he is buried in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province. His life, though short, was a blessing to many, and his story continues to inspire.
Referenced from David C. McCasland’s biography of Eric Liddell, Pure Gold, published by World Knowledge Publishing House in February 2008.
Editor’s note: “Another Paris Olympics: Centennial Memorial of Eric Liddell, the First Olympic Champion to Die in China” was originally written in Chinese and published by JingJie (New Territory). It was translated and edited by the ChinaSource team with permission.
ChinaSource has published several articles about Eric Liddell. You can find them all under the “Eric Liddell” tag.
Watch a colorized video of footage from the 1924 Paris Olympics on YouTube. A clip of Eric Liddell starts at 0:44.
Image credit: Images of Eric Liddell inside Weixian Internment Camp Museum, Alexandquan, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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