The amazing connection between West Kilbride and one of Scotland's greatest-ever Olympians, who later inspired the Chariots of Fire movie, was revealed at a church service on Sunday.
West Kilbride Church was hosting a special family service commemorating the life and faith of Eric Liddell, the sprinter and Christian missionary who refused to run in the heats of the 100 metres in the Paris Olympics in 1924 because they were held on a Sunday,
Instead, he opted to compete in the 400 metres held on a weekday, a race that he won.
The story of Liddell's Olympic training and racing, and the religious convictions that influenced him, inspired the Oscar-winning 1981 film Chariots of Fire.
A church spokesperson said: "We had a lovely service yesterday commemorating Eric Liddell and thinking about his faith. It is 100 years since he won a gold medal in the 400m at the 1924 Paris Olympics.
"We also thought about his connection with West Kilbride where he stayed a few times, ran on the beach and in the Glen and preached in the church.
"He gifted an autograph book to the son of the farmer where he used to stay."
In the autograph book, it says: "In the dust of defeat as well as in the laurel of victory, there is glory to be found."
After the Olympics, Liddell continued to compete. His refusal to compete on Sunday meant he was also absent from the Olympic 4×400-metre relay, in which Britain finished third.
Shortly after the Games, he ran the final leg in the 4×400-metre race in a British Empire vs. USA contest to help secure victory over the Americans, who had won the gold medal in Paris.
A year later, in 1925, at the Scottish Amateur Athletics Association meeting in Hampden Park in Glasgow, he equalled his Scottish championship record of 10.0 seconds in the 100-yard race, won the 220-yard contest in 22.2 seconds, won the 440-yard contest in 47.7, and participated in a winning relay team
He was only the fourth athlete to have won all three sprints at these amateur athletic meetings in Scotland, achieving this feat in 1924 and 1925. These were his final races on British soil.
You can watch the West Kilbride Parish Church service on Eric Liddell on the West Kilbride Parish Church YouTube channel, or see below.
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