Eric Liddell

Eric Liddell

Liddell at the British Empire versus U.S.A. relays meet held at Stamford Bridge in July 1924[1]
Personal information
Full name	Eric Henry Liddell
Nationality	Scottish
Born	(1902-01-16)16 January 1902 Tianjin, Qing China
Died	21 February 1945(1945-02-21) (aged 43) Weihsien Internment Camp, Japanese China
Spouse	Florence Mackenzie
Children	3 daughters
Sport
Country	Scotland
Sport	Athletics, rugby union (7 tests)
Event(s)	100m, 200m, 400m
Club	University of Edinburgh
Team	Great Britain
Achievements and titles
Olympic finals	1924
Medal record Men's athletics Representing  Great Britain Olympic Games 1924 Paris 400 metres 1924 Paris 200 metres
Rugby player
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing-threequarter Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) Edinburgh University () Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1921-22 Edinburgh District () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1922–1923 Scotland 7 (12)
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	埃里克·利德爾
Simplified Chinese	埃里克·利德尔
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin Āilǐkè Lìdéĕr Wade–Giles Ailik'e Liteerh

Eric Henry Liddell (/ˈlɪdəl/; 16 January 1902 – 21 February 1945) was a Scottish sprinter, rugby player and Christian missionary. Born in Qing China to Scottish missionary parents, he attended boarding school near London, spending time when possible with his family in Edinburgh, and afterwards attended the University of Edinburgh.

At the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris, Liddell refused to run in the heats for his favoured 100 metres because they were held on a Sunday. Instead he competed in the 400 metres held on a weekday, a race that he won. He returned to China in 1925 and served as a missionary teacher. Aside from two furloughs in Scotland, he remained in China until his death in a Japanese civilian internment camp in 1945.

Liddell's Olympic training and racing, and the religious convictions that influenced him, are depicted in the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire, in which he is portrayed by fellow Scot and University of Edinburgh alumnus Ian Charleson.