2007-09-24

Today as we count down to the Olympics, we look at an extraordinary athlete who not only won Olympic glory but gave his life to China and to the Chinese people. He is the 1924 gold medalist in the 400 meters, Eric Liddell.

Liddell's path to Olympic fame was powerfully dramatized in the Oscar-winning movie, Chariots of Fire, but now we have news of a sequel. The next film will describe the equally amazing story of Eric Liddell's life in China after the Olympics, including his rescue of a Chinese man from Japanese soldiers during the Second World War.

In today's China's Champions, our reporter Ian talks with the New-York based actor, playwright and screenwriter, Rich Swingle, who tells the post-Olympics story in a one-man play, entitled Beyond The Chariots, which he recently performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Theatre Festival in Scotland. Rich is also collaborating on the movie script to tell this amazing tale as a sequel to Chariots of Fire.

So let's here the words from one champion about another champion!

Rich Swingle in the Off-Broadway production of his one-man play Beyond the Chariots. Photo by Peter Berberian, peterberberianphoto.­com.




Rich Swingle in his one-man play Beyond the Chariots. Photo by Peter Berberian, peterberberianphoto.­com. Artwork by Karen Snyder, holywoodmedia.com.