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Eric
Henry Liddell
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Eric Liddell was a British Olympian and missionary to China.
He was born in China where his parents were missionaries, but, due to political unrest, returned with his brother, Rob, to Scotland. They stayed in a boarding school for missionaries' sons and their mother and younger sister and brother visited every couple years.
Before Eric and Rob left China (when Eric was 6 and Rob 8), Eric had been very sick and it was feared he would never be able to run and play with other children. The first thing the headmaster at the school noticed was Eric's pallor and lethargy. However, by the end of his time there, Eric and Rob were consistently the top 2 winners in all track events and strong members of the school rugby team.
Eric loved sports. When he was just a child, with his family in China, he heard his father talk about the first Scottish Olympic Track medalist - who won a bronze. Eric ran in many competitions, but never thought of it for a career. He was determined from the time he was young to return to China and be a missionary with his father. Rob also returned to China as a missionary doctor. Eric began working toward a science degree so that he could teach science in China, planning to return on his first furlough and obtain his ordination from the London Missionary Society.
BUT...
He and his mother believed that his speed was a gift from God. He did not believe that God granted him special privileges to win races but he believed God would use his races to glorify Himself.
In a time when personal trainers were for the most elite athletes, Eric was assigned such a trainer and began training. Both the trainer and the fans were amazed at his "windmill style"...
He would thrown his chest out, head back, mouth open, and swing his arms like windmills as he ran. His speed and style combined to give him the nickname "The Flying Scotsman". Another British runner, Harold Abrahams, once commented that though many people criticized Eric's style "he always gets there, so leave him be"!
In one particular race, right before the Olympics, Eric was shoved off the track by another runner, but sprang back and sprinted to the finish line .... in first place!
Liddell's trainer anticipated the 1924 Paris Olympics, knowing Eric had qualified. However, he was also concerned because he was aware that the man in charge of the Olympics wanted them to be conducted in 2 weeks rather than the usual whole summer of Games. This meant some of the "heats" for the track events would have to be held on Sunday, Eric's trainer knew (without so much as asking) that Eric would not run in any event held on Sunday. Confirmation of his concerns came when the Olympic schedule arrived and Eric flat refused to race in the heats for 100 meter event - which was his best event. He was able to race in the 200m and 400m events though.
Eric won bronze in the 200 (2 Americans taking silver and gold) and beating British rival Harold Abrahams. In the 400, however, Eric Liddell became the first Scotsman to win gold at the Olympics. Right before the 400m race, a man handed Eric a note with the verse that says He who honors me, him will I honor!
Eric Liddell's devotion to God became world known as news of the British Olympian who would not compete on Sunday spread around the world.
Eric was a hero when he returned to Scotland, but did not let that interfere with either his missionary or science teacher training.
True to his determination and calling, Eric finished his schooling and headed for China.
He became a college science teacher and lived with his parents until his father's health forced the Missionary Society to bring the elder Mr. Liddell back to Scotland.
Eric married Florence MacKenzie and they had 2 daughters in China, Patricia and Heather.
Florence and the girls moved to Canada with Flo's family when political unrest made the country too unsafe for them. Their 3rd daughter, Maureen, was born in Canada - Eric never met her.
Eric (and all westerns in China) were eventually confined to internment camps. At the camp, Eric was known as a positive spirit, a hard worker, a sports organizer, a preacher, and a friend. Eric died in the camp of a cerebral hemorrhage with his sister-in-law (Rob's wife, Annie - a nurse) by his side. Flo was told of his death . . . 2 weeks afterwards. The grave where Eric was buried was destroyed, but a monument was erected at the site of the camp years later.
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The well-known film, "Chariots of Fire" tells of Eric Liddell's and Harold Abrahams journeys to the Olympics.
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The Chariots of Fire Song was the theme song of the 2012 London Olympics ... renewing and proclaiming the legacy of Eric Liddell yet again.
He was born in China where his parents were missionaries, but, due to political unrest, returned with his brother, Rob, to Scotland. They stayed in a boarding school for missionaries' sons and their mother and younger sister and brother visited every couple years.
Before Eric and Rob left China (when Eric was 6 and Rob 8), Eric had been very sick and it was feared he would never be able to run and play with other children. The first thing the headmaster at the school noticed was Eric's pallor and lethargy. However, by the end of his time there, Eric and Rob were consistently the top 2 winners in all track events and strong members of the school rugby team.
Eric loved sports. When he was just a child, with his family in China, he heard his father talk about the first Scottish Olympic Track medalist - who won a bronze. Eric ran in many competitions, but never thought of it for a career. He was determined from the time he was young to return to China and be a missionary with his father. Rob also returned to China as a missionary doctor. Eric began working toward a science degree so that he could teach science in China, planning to return on his first furlough and obtain his ordination from the London Missionary Society.
BUT...
He and his mother believed that his speed was a gift from God. He did not believe that God granted him special privileges to win races but he believed God would use his races to glorify Himself.
In a time when personal trainers were for the most elite athletes, Eric was assigned such a trainer and began training. Both the trainer and the fans were amazed at his "windmill style"...
He would thrown his chest out, head back, mouth open, and swing his arms like windmills as he ran. His speed and style combined to give him the nickname "The Flying Scotsman". Another British runner, Harold Abrahams, once commented that though many people criticized Eric's style "he always gets there, so leave him be"!
In one particular race, right before the Olympics, Eric was shoved off the track by another runner, but sprang back and sprinted to the finish line .... in first place!
Liddell's trainer anticipated the 1924 Paris Olympics, knowing Eric had qualified. However, he was also concerned because he was aware that the man in charge of the Olympics wanted them to be conducted in 2 weeks rather than the usual whole summer of Games. This meant some of the "heats" for the track events would have to be held on Sunday, Eric's trainer knew (without so much as asking) that Eric would not run in any event held on Sunday. Confirmation of his concerns came when the Olympic schedule arrived and Eric flat refused to race in the heats for 100 meter event - which was his best event. He was able to race in the 200m and 400m events though.
Eric won bronze in the 200 (2 Americans taking silver and gold) and beating British rival Harold Abrahams. In the 400, however, Eric Liddell became the first Scotsman to win gold at the Olympics. Right before the 400m race, a man handed Eric a note with the verse that says He who honors me, him will I honor!
Eric Liddell's devotion to God became world known as news of the British Olympian who would not compete on Sunday spread around the world.
Eric was a hero when he returned to Scotland, but did not let that interfere with either his missionary or science teacher training.
True to his determination and calling, Eric finished his schooling and headed for China.
He became a college science teacher and lived with his parents until his father's health forced the Missionary Society to bring the elder Mr. Liddell back to Scotland.
Eric married Florence MacKenzie and they had 2 daughters in China, Patricia and Heather.
Florence and the girls moved to Canada with Flo's family when political unrest made the country too unsafe for them. Their 3rd daughter, Maureen, was born in Canada - Eric never met her.
Eric (and all westerns in China) were eventually confined to internment camps. At the camp, Eric was known as a positive spirit, a hard worker, a sports organizer, a preacher, and a friend. Eric died in the camp of a cerebral hemorrhage with his sister-in-law (Rob's wife, Annie - a nurse) by his side. Flo was told of his death . . . 2 weeks afterwards. The grave where Eric was buried was destroyed, but a monument was erected at the site of the camp years later.
~ ~ ~
The well-known film, "Chariots of Fire" tells of Eric Liddell's and Harold Abrahams journeys to the Olympics.
::images from the film::
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The Chariots of Fire Song was the theme song of the 2012 London Olympics ... renewing and proclaiming the legacy of Eric Liddell yet again.
