Eric takes his place in the outside lane, and Scholz walks up to him, thrusts a piece of paper into his hand, then quickly walks away again. Eric unfolds it and reads: "It says in the old Book, 'He that honors me, I will honor.' Good luck." As Eric crouches in preparation for the start of the race, he wraps his hand around the paper and, as the pistol sounds, runs the race with the note clutched in his fist.
As Eric runs, we hear again the words which he spoke to his sister Jenny long before- that God had made him fast, and that when he runs, he feels God's pleasure. And, rather than fading during the last half of the race, we see Eric tip back his head, which those familiar with his running style recognize as the moment in the race when he calls upon his inner reserves and pours on the speed. As he pulls into the lead, we see Harold in the stands with the rest of the British team; he has a look of wonder on his face as he observes the expression on Eric's- one of exultation in the race, and his speed in it.
When the British Olympic team returns to England, they are met with cheering crowds. Sibyl is there to meet Harold; the two of them gaze at each other, then embrace.
At this point, the film returns to Harold Abrahams' funeral so many years later. As it comes to an end, the last two surviving members of the team, Lord Lindsay and Aubrey Montague, walk away together, and scrolling text fills us in on what became of Harold and Eric following the 1924 Olympics. Harold married Sybil, and became the elder statesman of British athletics. Eric returned to China as a missionary, and died in a Japanese prison camp there during W.W. II.
The film closes as it opened, with the scene of the 1924 Olympic team running in the surf along the beach.