Inspired by ‘trailblazer’
SIR ROGER BANNISTER has been hailed as ‘a great trailblazer’ and ‘pioneer’. Tributes poured in yesterday following the death, aged 88, of the first man to run a mile in less than four minutes, but who always chose to put greater stock in his later career as a neurologist. Bannister was an inspiration to generations of British athletes. Steve Cram, who broke the world record for the mile in 1985, said: ‘I wanted to be a great British miler following in his footsteps. To have Roger Bannister as a Brit having done that was something I used so often over the years to inspire me individually.’ Paula Radcliffe, the marathon world record-holder, said: ‘He was such a great pioneer. I was honoured to meet him. It meant a lot to me because he really was a great trailblazer. He showed what people could do.’ Brendan Foster, the 1976 Olympic bronze medallist at 10,000m, said: ‘Roger’s achievement in running the first sub-four-minute mile will remain for ever as a symbol of a great moment in British history. ‘His inspiration will last for ever. Even today, more men have climbed Everest than have run a sub-four-minute mile. I was proud to have known him.’ Laura Muir, who won two middle-distance medals at the World Indoors in Birmingham at the weekend, combines her running with demanding studies to become a vet. Bannister’s devotion to medicine, she said yesterday, had helped to give her belief. ‘Seeing that you don’t have to choose, you can be the best you can in the two fields, that was really inspirational,’ Muir said. ‘It’s very sad that he’s passed away but he’s been a great role model, not only in athletics and medicine, but the fact he combined the two as well.’