Eric Liddell, a renowned Scottish athlete and devout Christian, is remembered for his victory in the 400-meter race at the 1924 Paris Olympics. After his Olympic triumph, he turned down a promising career in sports to become a missionary in China, where he dedicated the rest of his life to serving others. Both on and off the track, Liddell remained steadfast in his faith and values, becoming a symbol of courage and integrity.
In August 2024, marking the centenary of Liddell's Olympic victory, a special exhibition "Eric Liddell and Weifang" opened at the Eric Liddell Community in Edinburgh, UK. This event, a collaboration between the Community and the Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum, shows how Eric Liddell is remembered and honored in Weifang, China.
Eric Liddell (the Chinese name Li Airui), born to Scottish parents in Tianjin, China, in 1902, made a bold decision at the 1924 Paris Olympics, withdrawing from two races because of his Christian faith. Instead, he competed in the 200m and 400m events, winning bronze in the 200m and breaking the world record in the 400m with a time of 47.06 seconds to claim gold. At the peak of his athletic career, Liddell returned to Tianjin at age 23, where he served as a missionary and physical education teacher. In 1943, he was arrested by Japanese forces and interned at Weihsien Internment Camp, where he died of a brain tumor in early 1945 at the age of 43.
In an interview with China Christian Daily, Sue Caton, Liddell's niece and the first patron of the Eric Liddell Community, shared her family’s memories of her uncle.
Although Sue never met Eric, and her father, Eric’s younger brother, only knew him briefly, she has come to understand his life and legacy through her involvement with the Eric Liddell Community. A prominent memory in her family is a photograph of Liddell being carried triumphantly by university students, with an olive wreath adorning his head.
Reflecting on Liddell’s values, Sue remarked, "It's about helping people and caring for people, which is what he did. Yes, he was a wonderful runner, but he gave all that up for something much more important." This philosophy guides the work of the Eric Liddell Community, which supports those with dementia, and their caregivers and provides various community services, such as meals and events. The "Eric Liddell 100" series of commemorations, including exhibitions across Scotland, Hong Kong, and Paris, emphasize Liddell’s enduring legacy of passion, compassion, and integrity, which is still relevant today.
The film “Chariots of Fire” popularized Liddell’s athletic achievements. "He was portrayed a little seriously in the film," she joked, adding that her aunt, Jenny, who was shown disapproving of his running, was also depicted more sternly than in reality. Nonetheless, the family was pleased with the overall portrayal.
One of the more light-hearted stories Sue shared about Liddell from her aunt Florence Mackenzie, his wife contrasts with the serious portrayal in the film.
During the Japanese occupation of China, after transitioning from his role as a school science teacher, Liddell became a Red Cross worker, helping the sick while concealing his true identity as a missionary. At this time, the local population was struggling under Japanese rule, and one of the major challenges they faced was a shortage of currency. Eric smuggled money across the border to those in need.
The method he employed was simple yet ingenious: he hollowed out a French stick—a long, thin loaf of bread—and stuffed it with cash. The loaf, sticking out conspicuously from his rucksack, did not exactly look like something meant to be hidden. He knew the Japanese had a soft spot for kids, so whenever he was stopped at a checkpoint, he would take out photos of his daughters. The guards, distracted by the photos, often forgot to thoroughly search his belongings.
"He wasn't serious at all in that sense," Sue noted, "He was quiet, quite shy, and deeply committed to his prayers, something he did every day. But he was never domineering, only ever encouraging others to do the same."
His eldest daughter, Patricia, also remembered him as a warm, humorous man with a dazzling smile, a dad who had sparkle. In her view, her father was more of a liberal Christian—although he famously refused to run on Sundays, he would never have stopped anyone else from doing so.
While he enjoyed sports, it was not his true calling. Even after being encouraged by other athletes to compete in another Olympics, Eric declined, explaining that "there are much more important things for me to do than that." Instead, he chose to dedicate his life to missionary work in China, where he won the hearts and minds of many. That’s why Patricia saw her father as a humanitarian. He cared greatly about the local people he served in China, dedicating his life to supporting their needs.
Liddell married Florence, the daughter of Canadian missionaries, in China in 1934. As the political situation worsened in 1941, Florence left China with their two daughters, Patricia and Heather. At the time, their youngest daughter, Maureen, was still in the womb and sadly never had the chance to meet her father. Today, Eric Liddell is survived by nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.
Liddell’s three daughters later visited China with David McCasland, the author of Eric Liddell: Pure Gold, to retrace their father's footsteps. They visited the Weihsien Internment Camp where Liddell was imprisoned during World War II and where he ultimately passed away in 1945. Maureen found the visit deeply moving and helpful in understanding her father’s life and sacrifice.
Born in China, this Olympic champion dedicated his life to the country, where he ultimately gave his last breath. As this year celebrates the 100th anniversary of his Olympic gold medal, alongside the Paris Olympics, many Chinese honor Eric Liddell with articles and videos on social media platforms. Sue noted, "He cared for the Chinese people as best as he could." In turn, when Liddell was later imprisoned in a Japanese internment camp, the very people he had helped came to his aid. “I think the Chinese should know that too,” she added.
