Chariots of Fire

  • Harold Abrahams enrolls at Cambridge University

    Abrahams is Jewish and when he enters Cambridge, he meets with some anti-Semitism.
  • Eric Liddell decides to take up competitive running.

    Eric is a Scottish Missionary working in China with his family. His sister strongly disagrees with his decision to run competitively, but he argues that in running he is honoring the gift that God bestowed on him.
  • Abrahams completes the Trinity Great Court Run

    He is the first person to ever complete the course. He devouts much time to running and is undefeated in his first several races.
  • Abrahams joins the Gilbert and Sullivan Theatre Club

    Abrahams finds that he enjoys acting. In the club he meets and falls in love with a famous singer/actress, Sybil.
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    Abrahams continues relationship with Sybil

    The relationship is rocky at times because Abrahams does not want his feelings for Sybil to get in the way of his training. Even though they agree that he needs time to train as the Olympics draw closer, Sybil meets him at the train station and wishes him luck.
  • Abrahams and Liddell Race for the First Time

    Liddell defeats Abrahams and hands Harold his first loss. Abrahams struggles severely with the defeat.
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    Abrahams asks Mussabini to train him

    Initially the powers that be at Cambridge are opposed to an amateur athlete being trained by a professional trainer, but Abrahams ignores their protests and has Sam Mussabini train him on and off through the 1924 Olympic Games.
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    Liddell is criticized by his sister

    Eric's sister, Jennie, pressures him to give up running as it is conflicting with his devotion and commitment to God and Missionary work. Eric reiterates that God had made created him to be a runner and that he feels connected to God most when he is running. Jennie finally accepts her brother's devotion to the sport.
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    Abrahams and Liddell Train for the British Olympic Team

  • Abrahams and Liddell make the British Olympic Team

    Along with the two men, Lord Andrew Lindsay, Aubrey Montague, and Henry Stallard, all friends of Abrahams, make the squad.
  • Liddell refuses to run

    While boarding the boat to Paris for the Olympics, Eric learns that the 100 metre race would be run on a Sunday. Because of his strict adherence to keeping the Sabbath holy, he =states that he will not run the race if it is run on a Sunday.
  • Lindsay saves the day!

    Liddell is pressured by several dignitaries, including the Prince of Wales, to run the race regardless of his religious convictions. He refuses. Just then, Lord Lindsay comes in and proposes that Liddell take his place in the team's 400 metre race to be run on a Tuesday. Lindsay had already won two silver medals for the team. Liddell agrees and the problem is resolved.
  • Liddell delivers a sermon

    On the Sunday he was to compete in the 100 metre race, Liddell is preaching at the Paris Church of Scotland during which he delivers a sermon based on Isaiah 40:6. Ironically, it is the Old Testament Verse that extols people to "mount up with wins as eagles" and "run, and be not weary."
  • Abrahams loses to Paddock

    Harold Abrahams is badly beaten by Charles Paddock, the favored US runner, in 200 metres.
  • Abrahams defeats Paddock

    Abrahams wins the gold in the 100 metres, defeating Paddock who wins the silver.
  • Liddell helps win the gold

    Despite not being used to running the longer distance, and despite being the underdog to the favor US Team, Liddell beats Scholz in the last leg of the 400 metres earning a gold medal for the British Team.
  • Harold and Sybil Marry

    Harold and Sybil are engaged and then marry. Abrahams eventually becomes a statesman of British Athletics.
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    Liddell dies in the Missions Field

    Eric Liddell holds true to his promise and returns to his family and their missionary work in China. In 1945, he is killed by Japanese Troops.
  • Abrahams dies

    Lord Lindsay, the last surviving member of the 1924 British Olympic Team, gives the eulogy at Harold Abrahams funeral.