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The Four-Minute Mile
Bannister held by his coaches (Image Courtesy of TRT World)
Bannister in his school sweater (Image Courtesy of Racing Past)
"Every time I ran the mile I was aware of my own weakness, there was some opponent who could give me a hell of a fight, so I never went into a race with a sense of invincibility. I always had that feeling of fragility and nerves which made me run faster." ~ Roger Bannister
On May 6, 1954, with a time of three minutes, fifty-nine seconds, and four milliseconds, Roger Bannister broke the record previously held by Gunder Hagg and though to be impossible by doctors.
Roger Bannister crossing the finish line (Image Courtesy of Daily Mail)
Roger Bannister felt that his mile record was a sort of “Everest,” one of the highest points ever reached in track. He states, “Whether we athletes like it or not, the four-minute mile had become rather like an Everest...” This quote was used to exemplify the importance of his sub-four-minute mile. This mile also gave needed hope to Britian.
First Four Minute Mile- HQ (Roger Bannister:1954) (Video Courtesy of m.youtube.com)
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister took to the starting line with hopes of beating the four-minute mile record. When the gun blew, Roger Bannister took off from the starting line in second place. For the first lap, he felt as though they were running to slow. He stated, “I went on worrying about the pace until I heard the first lap time, 57.5 seconds.” Roger Bannister continued to run in second place behind Chris Brasher, until the third lap, when Bannister followed Chris Chataway ahead of Brasher. To make up time, the last lap had to be run in 59 seconds and he had to pass Chris Chataway. He accomplished this and nearly collapsed at the finish line, knowing that he had accomplished the first sub four-minute.
"I think the conspiracy theory(s) are all ridiculous as not only he and two or three otherscome close several times, they continued to rin sun four-minute miles afterwards athletes continue to do so to this day. Secondly, you can watch the original video of the race andthe ones that follwed with your own eyes, stop watch and see that he indeed run sub four."
~ Joseph Sheader, Track and Cross Country Coach
Bannister Speaks After Running First Sub Four- Minute Mile (Video Courtesy of m.youtube.com)
A Newspaper Bannister was in (Image courtesy of The Gaurdian)
Bannister and his coaches (Image courtesy of Daily Camera)
Bannister holding a trophy (mage courtesy of Daily Sports)