Eric Liddell: A True Hero
“In the dust of defeat as well as the laurels of victory, there is glory to be found if one has done his best.” - Eric Liddell, 1924 Olympic Gold Medalist, Missionary?
“It has been a wonderful experience to compete in the Olympic Games and to bring home a gold medal.? But since I have been a young lad, I have had my eyes on a different prize.? You see, each one of us is in a greater race than any I have run in Paris, and this race ends when God gives out the medals.” - Eric Liddell, after winning the Gold Medal and beginning his life as a missionary.?
Here's the story of this remarkable man of God:
Eric Henry Liddell was born on the 16th of January 1902 in Tientsin (Tianjin) in North China, second son of the Rev & Mrs. James Dunlop Liddell who were missionaries with the London Mission Society. He was educated from 1908 to 1920 at Eltham College, Blackheath, a school for the sons of missionaries. Eric, with his older brother Rob, were left at their boarding school while their parents and sister Jenny returned to China.
During the boys' time at Eltham College their parents, sister and new brother Ernest came home on furlough two or three times and were able to be together as a family - mainly living in Edinburgh.
In 1920, Eric joined his brother Rob at Edinburgh University to read for a BSc in Pure Science. He graduated after the Paris Olympiad in 1924.
Athletics and rugby played a large part in Eric's University life. He ran in the 100 yards and the 220 yards for Edinburgh University and later for Scotland. He played rugby for Edinburgh University and in 1922 played in seven Scottish Internationals with A. L. Gracie.
As a result of having insufficient time for both running and rugby, he chose the former, aiming for the 100 meters in the Paris Olympics. When he learned that the heats were to be run on a Sunday, he switched to the 400-meter competition as he was not prepared to run on that day. Being a godly man he dedicated Sunday to the Lord and in extreme dedication to Him he would not make any exceptions to the rule. He won a gold medal for the 400 meters and a bronze medal for the 200 meters at the Paris Olympics.
After the Olympics and his graduation, he returned to North China where he served as a missionary from 1925 to 1943 - first in Tientsin (Tianjin) and later in Siao Chang. During his first furlough (1932) he was ordained as a minister. On his return to China he married Florence Mackenzie (of Canadian missionary parentage) in Tientsin (1934). They had three daughters, Patricia, Heather and Maureen, who now all live in Canada.
Living in China in the 1930s was potentially very dangerous and in 1937 when Eric was sent to Siao Chang where he joined his brother Rob. He was now crossing the Japanese Army lines.
In 1941 life in China was becoming so dangerous that the British Government advised British nationals to leave. Florence and the children left for Canada. During 1941 - 1943 Eric stayed in Tientsin, then in 1943 he was interned in Weihsien Concentration Camp until his death in 1945.
Note: Eric's life was featured in the movie, "Chariots of Fire."
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