biography
| name: |
Liddell, Eric (Henry)
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| |
nickname the Flying Scotsman
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pronunciation:
[lidl]
| sex:
| male
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| lived:
| (1902–45)
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| biography:
| British athlete and missionary, born in Tientsin, E China. He studied at Eltham College, London, and Edinburgh University. At the 1924 Olympics in Paris he won the bronze medal in the 200 m, and then caused a sensation by winning the gold medal in the 400 m (at which he was comparatively inexperienced) in a world record time of 47·6 s. In 1925, having completed his degree in science, and a degree in divinity, he went to China to work as a missionary. During World War 2 he was interned by the Japanese, and not long before the war ended he died of a brain tumour. The story of his athletic triumphs was told in the film Chariots of Fire (1981). |
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