Eric Liddell (1902 – 1945) was a Scottish Olympic sprinter, rugby player, and missionary. Known for his strong Christian convictions, he famously refused to run the 100m at the 1924 Olympics because it was held on a Sunday. Instead, he competed in the 400m, winning gold and setting a world record.
Born in China to Scottish missionaries, he was sent to boarding school in England before studying at the University of Edinburgh. A gifted athlete, he excelled in rugby and sprinting, representing Scotland in rugby union and becoming the fastest runner in Scotland. His Olympic victory made him a national hero.
After the Games, he became a missionary in China, teaching and serving communities despite growing political unrest. When Japan invaded, he refused to leave, continuing his work until internment in a Japanese camp in 1943. There, he organized sports, taught children, and inspired fellow prisoners. He died in 1945 from a brain tumor, just months before liberation.
His life was immortalized in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire. His legacy as an athlete, humanitarian, and man of faith remains celebrated worldwide.