Eric Liddell

@Sportspersons, Career and Childhood

Eric Liddell was a Scottish athlete, rugby player and missionary

Jan 16, 1902

HumanitarianScottishUniversity Of EdinburghSportspersonsRugby PlayersAthletesCapricorn Celebrities
Biography

Personal Details

  • Birthday: January 16, 1902
  • Died on: February 21, 1945
  • Nationality: Scottish
  • Famous: Humanitarian, University Of Edinburgh, Sportspersons, Rugby Players, Athletes
  • Spouses: Florence Mackenzie
  • Siblings: Jenny, Robert
  • Known as: Eric Henry Liddel

Eric Liddell born at

Tianjin

Unsplash
Birth Place

When he first reached China as a missionary, Liddell taught at an Anglo-Chinese College, to wealthy Chinese students in the hope that they will grow up and use their resources to spread the word of god.

Unsplash
Personal Life

In 1934, after getting ordained a minister of religion, Liddell got married to a Canadian missionary, Florence Mackenzie. The couple had three daughters together - Patricia, Heather and Maureen.

Unsplash
Personal Life

During the Japanese attack on China, Liddell suffered from a mental breakdown due to an untreatable brain tumor and malnutrition. He died in 1945 in China.

Unsplash
Personal Life

Eric Liddell was born in Tientsin, north China to Reverend James Dunlop Liddell. His parents were Scottish missionaries with the London Missionary Society, stationed in China at the time he was born.

Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life

He went to Chinese schools until the age of five but was later sent to Eltham College, Mottingham—boarding school in England for the sons of missionaries. His parents used to visit him, with his sister and younger brother.

Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life

Liddell was a brilliant sportsman at school and was named the best athlete of the year and awarded the Blackheath Cup, which is why he was made the captain of both the cricket and rugby union teams.

Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life

While he was studying at the Oxford College in England, stories of him being the fastest runner in Scotland started to do the rounds. He was seen as the potential Olympic winner.

Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life

Not just a sportsman, Liddell was also a strongly principled Christian, which is why he was selected to speak at the Glasgow Students’ Evangelical Unit. In 1920, he enrolled himself at the University of Edinburgh to pursue Pure Science.

Unsplash
Childhood & Early Life

Liddell was triumphant in various British competitions, winning the shorter sprint distances at the Triangular International Contests from 1921-1923; the competition showcased athletes from Scotland, England and Ireland.

Unsplash
Career

He was included in the British Olympic squad which was destined for the Olympics in Paris in 1924, and although he was a strong contender in the 100 meters event, due to his religious principles, Liddell refused to run on a Sunday.

Unsplash
Career

He refused to run in the 100m heats, which were held on a Sunday and instead became a member of the squad designated to run in 400 meters, a distance which he could handle very well, but it was certainly not his specialty.

Unsplash
Career

An great run won him not only a gold medal by a margin of some six meters, but also a world record of 47.6 seconds in the process was set.

Unsplash
Career

In 1925, at the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association meeting in Glasgow, he set his Scottish championship record of 10.0 seconds in the 100, won the 220 yard contest in 22.2 seconds and won the 440 yard contest in 47.7.

Unsplash
Career