50 stunning Olympic moments: Eric Liddell's 1924 triumph – in pictures

Eric Liddell was born in Tianjin, China on 16 January 1902 to the Rev and Mrs James Dunlop Liddell who were Scottish missionaries. A 10-year-old Eric, second right, is pictured with his family (left to right): his sister Jenny, mother Mary, father James, brother Ernest and elder brother Robert. Eric and Robert attended Eltham College in Mottingham, which was a boarding school for the sons of missionaries while their parents and sister lived in China but came home on furlough on a number of occasions during the boys' school years and the family lived together mainly in Edinburgh Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

In 1921 he joined his brother Robert at the University of Edinburgh where athletics and rugby played a large part in his university life. His athletic prowess, which was already well known, was amply demonstrated at the 1923 AAA Championships at Stamford Bridge in London. He won the 100 yards, setting a British record of 9.7 seconds what would not be broken for 35 years, and the 220 yards, in 21.6 seconds Photograph: AP

The following year saw the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris and newspapers had for years talked of Liddell as a potential Olympic winner. However, several months before the games it became apparent that Liddell would not be able to compete in his best event, the 100 metre race, because one of the heats fell on a Sunday and as a devout Christian Liddell refused to compete on the Sabbath. Instead it was decided that he would run in the 400 metre race instead, despite his best time of 49.6 seconds (set earlier in the year at the AAA Championship's 440 yard race) being modest by international standards Photograph: PA

Another event that Liddell was also competing in at the games was the 200 metres and he made the final. Unfortunately Liddell (second left) was unable to pass Charlie Paddock (left) and race winner Jackson Scholz (third left) and took the bronze medal Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

On the day of the 400 metre race, a US team masseur slipped a piece of paper containing a biblical quote into his hand. The paper contained the word of 1 Samuel 2:30: "Those who honour me I will honour". In addition to this, the 51st Highland Brigade were playing outside the stadium, so inpired by these signs, the young theological student flew out the blocks and sped around the first half of the track to be well clear of the fancied Americans. Being in the outside lane, he couldn't tell how close they were to him, so his head went back and his mouth opened and he continued this speed into the second half of the race ... Photograph: Underwood & Underwood/Corbis

America's gold medal hope Horatio Fitch was in the lane next to Liddell and was gaining as the runners came down the home straight. With the tape only 20 metres away, Fitch gave one final spurt but as he later recounted "Liddell threw his head farther back, gathered himself together and shot forward." The Flying Scotsman took gold with Fitch 0.8 seconds behind and Britain's Guy Butler third Photograph: PA Archive

It's no wonder Liddell looks pleased, he took gold and broke the 400 metre world record, with a time of 47.6 seconds Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

After the Games Liddell returned to Britain a hero and went back to Edinburgh University for his graduation ceremony where he was carried around the Edinburgh streets in triumph Photograph: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis

In 1925 Liddell followed in his parents' footsteps and returned to Northern China to serve as a missionary, though he still competed sporadically until 1930. In 1934 he married Florence Mackenzie and they had 3 daughters – Patricia, Heather and Maureen, the last of whom he would not live to see. When Japan entered the war in 1943 he was interned at the Weihsien Internment Camp, though thankfully he had dispatched his wife and family to Canada two years previously. Liddell became leader and organiser at the camp, helping the elderly, teaching the young and arranging games despite food, medicine and other supplies being scarce. These scarcities may have been contributary factors to the inoperable brain tumour that caused his death on 21 February 1945, five months before liberation. In 2005 a wreath honouring Liddell was laid at his memorial headstone in Weifang at a ceremony commemorating the liberation of the camp Photograph: Elizabeth Dalziel/AP

In 2008, further evidence emerged of Liddell's selflessness and caring nature when Chinese authorities revealed that Liddell had refused an opportunity to leave the camp and instead gave his place on a prisoner exchange to a pregnant woman. News of this act of sacrifice came as a surprise to even his family members. To find out more about Liddell's life and to see more pictures of him and his family click here Photograph: PA Archive