This summer, thousands of athletes will compete in Paris with seemingly a united goal, to win gold for their country. 100 years ago in Paris, two world-class sprinters lined up with two very different perspectives on why achieving that gold medal was important.
Englishman Harold Abrahams ran the 100m, winning the gold medal after his great rival Eric Liddell withdrew due to the heats being scheduled on a Sunday. Liddell would go on to run his less-favoured event, the 400m, win and redefine the event forever.
In the film Chariots of Fire, Abrahams says: ‘In one hour’s time … I will raise my eyes and look down the corridor – four feet wide, with ten lonely seconds to justify my whole existence. But will I?’
Abrahams ran to prove himself. Yet, despite being a world-class athlete, he found no fulfilment, security, or authentic purpose in life. At one point, he says: ‘Contentment. I am 24, and I’ve never known it. I’m forever in pursuit, and I don’t even know what I’m chasing.’
Meanwhile, Liddell believed his sporting talent was a gift from the God who loved him unconditionally, giving him great joy. In a famous line in Chariots of Fire, Liddell says that God ‘made me fast, and when I run, I feel His pleasure’.
Fulfilment and security
Liddell experienced fulfilment and security in both victory and defeat. When he competed, Liddell knew that God loved him and called him to use his abilities to express the joy of God’s goodness to him.
In elite sport, historically if someone became a Christian their manager was concerned they would lose their competitive edge. Our research with many sportspeople shows this is not the case.
Scottie Scheffler, after his 2024 Masters victory stated how, like Eric, his secure identity in Jesus helps him deal with pressure: ‘My buddies told me this morning my victory was secure on the cross. And that’s a pretty special feeling to know that I’m secure for forever and it doesn’t matter if I win this tournament or lose this tournament.’
This secure identity is radically counter-cultural in the sporting world and itself a powerful testimony. The golfing world currently does not know how to handle this calm competitiveness as Scheffler’s golfing mindset is significantly aided by his faith.
Authenticity and witness
Eric Liddell is an early example of a disciple publicly living out his faith in the sporting world. He was well known for his sportsmanship, his care for fellow competitors and respect for those organising tournaments. Then, when he started taking his faith seriously, he would regularly speak both in public and private of how it impacted his view of his sport, his academic achievements, and his purpose in life.
It is from his sense of fulfilment and security that he felt free and empowered to live and speak of Jesus.
Having conducted research with professional footballers, this same pattern of fulfilment, security, authenticity and witness was clear as they turned to Jesus.
Their testimony, like Eric’s, is an encouragement for us as we live in the different communities where God has placed us.
A summer of opportunity
Sport brings people together like little else – both watching and playing. The top ten most-watched television programmes this year will all be sport, and over 9 million people play sport in the UK each week. This summer provides an amazing time for us all to have conversations about Jesus with those we watch sport with and those we compete alongside.
Liddell and Abrahams can give us an example and some language to reflect together on why we do what we do and point to the delight we have of knowing Jesus.
As we witness athletes experiencing the joy of victory and the pain of defeat in Paris, we can reflect with our friends on the contrasting perspectives of athletes. We can ask them how they would deal with a crippling injury or the momentary pleasure of success and allow this to open up conversations about meaning and purpose.
As we spend time with people this summer, will we live lives which clearly show the fulfilment and security we have in knowing God our Father, and will we let that lead us to live authentic lives which drive towards conversations about Jesus?
