Eric Liddell was studying pure science at the University of Edinburgh when his athletic talent became impossible to ignore. He was the fastest sprinter in Scotland, and by 1924 he was selected to represent Great Britain in the 100 metres at the Paris Olympics. Then he discovered the heats were scheduled for a Sunday.
A Decision That Stunned the World
Liddell withdrew from the 100 metres — his best event. The British press called him a traitor. His teammates were baffled. The decision was simple for Liddell but incomprehensible to almost everyone around him: he believed Sunday was set apart, and he would not compromise that conviction for a gold medal.
Running a Different Race
He entered the 400 metres instead — an event he had barely trained for. Before the race, a masseur slipped him a note that read: "Those who honour me, I will honour." Liddell ran the 400 in 47.6 seconds, setting a world record and winning Olympic gold. It was one of the most stunning upsets in sporting history.
Beyond the Track
After Edinburgh, Liddell went to China as a missionary teacher. When the Japanese invaded, he was interned in a prison camp at Weifang. Even there, he organised sports and classes for children, tutored teenagers, and became known as the most selfless person in the camp. He died of a brain tumour in the camp in 1945, five months before liberation. He was forty-three years old.
What This Means for You
Eric Liddell's story began in a university and was shaped by a decision that everyone told him was foolish. He chose conviction over convenience and discovered that the race God had for him was bigger than anything he had planned. If you are facing a choice at school that puts your values at odds with what everyone expects — that might be the most important decision you ever make.
