As the 2024 Paris Olympics is approaching, we would like to share our collection from the one 100 years ago – medals won by Eric Liddell (1902-1945) at the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Born in Tientsin (Tianjin), North China, as a son of the missionaries Rev and Mrs James Dunlop Liddell, Eric Liddell came to the University of Edinburgh in 1920 to study BSc Pure Science. He was greatly involved in rugby and athletics during his university life and aimed for the 100m at the Paris Olympics. However, after learning that the 100m would be on Sunday, Liddell switched to the 400m and won an unexpected gold medal, as well as a bronze medal for the 200m.

His medals from the Olympics, as well as relevant items during his university time, including the Student magazine and photography, are at the Centre for Research Collections, the University of Edinburgh. You can have a look at them below.

 

Liddell went back to Tientsin (Tianjin) as a missionary after his graduation in 1924. He stayed there during the 1930s when living there was becoming dangerous after the Mukden Incident. He was eventually interned in Weishien camp from 1943 until his death in 1945.

 

Header: Eric Liddell’s Olympic Medals, 1924, the University of Edinburgh Centre for Research Collections, CC BY 3.0.