Triumfens ögonblick

(1981)

xtent the school administration, if only he maintains what they consider proper gentlemanly decorum, which isn't always the case in their minds. Born in China, the son of Christian missionaries, Eric, a Scot, is a devout member of the Church of Scotland who eventually wants to return to that missionary work. He sees running as a win-win in that the notoriety of being fast gives him an added outlet to spread the word of God, while he sees his speed as being a gift from God, and he wants to run to honor God and that gift. This view does not sit well with his sister, Jennie Liddell, who sees his running as only taking away time from his work to God.

Harold and Eric's lives do intersect in national races, but it is the 1924 Paris Olympics which is the ultimate confrontation. Despite the odds against him, Eric, who believes God will vindicate him, does qualify for the Olympics largely because of his rankings leading up to the Games. In the Games, Eric and Harold are notably different in their approach and how they handle themselves. In their own ways, Harold and Eric quietly 'rebel' against what they consider the 'shackles' which most of society and their collegiate class has placed upon them, Harold who wants to do just that in marrying a petite blond named Sybil Gordon, the pair who have been dating openly despite Harold's pref-
erence to be secretly clandestine shown by the fact that he has a picture of the two of them together hidden behind a picture of an alternate potential girlfriend with whom he could never marry. - While Eric, who wants to honor God in his actions, they who include not racing on the Sabbath, ultimately races in what ends up being a qualifier for him for the 100 meter sprint in the Olympics. - Making them all - Eric's sister, Jennie, Sybil, who he chooses ultimately to 'dishonor', Eric himself - wonder if his standing by his convictions has in effect put him on the road to ruin as he risks not going to the Olympics altogether.

Although Eric's chosen running distance is the 100 meter in the Olympics, he knows that to help him achieve his goal of serving God, he will likely have to compete in the 200 meter as well.

On the advice of Harold's running coach, he decides to try his hand at the 400 meter as his training for the 200 meter. His sprint effort in the 400 meter race on the Old Olympic Stadium's cinder track lasts for 57.2 seconds, a time which stands as the longstanding Olympic resord outstandingly intull 2008.. At times it looks as if Eric will upset the heavily favored Americans, then world sprinting powers Tom Paddock and Jackson Scholz, as Eric continues to chug along despite the comparisons to a duck in rhythm, his greater aptitude in the shorter distances and his British resources.