Eric Liddell won gold at the 1924 Paris Olympics. His was a life of inspiration to draw upon

The backstory of the man featured in Chariots of Fire offers a vision of there being a higher duty than one’s own personal success and national glory

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As I arrange my timetable for the next two weeks to allow plenty of space to cheer on our Olympians in Paris I feel a strong sense of nostalgia. It is 100 years ago that the Flying Scotsman, Eric Liddell, born in China to missionary parents, won gold in the 400m sprint at the 1924 Paris Olympics. That was obviously well before my time, but the nostalgia stems from the lasting impact on me of the brilliant 1981 film Chariots of Fire that recounted Liddell’s story.

The backstory of this man provides a curious challenge for a secular age that prizes success and competition and winning above all else.

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