Great achievements on and off the sports track

NEUROLOGY: Athlete also made great medical breakthroughs

Sir Roger Bannister gave sport one of its most cherished moments by running the first sub-four minute mile, made medical breakthroughs as a distinguished neurologist and served as the first chairman of the Sports Council.

He was one of Great Britain’s bestloved and most-respected sporting figures, best remembered for his feat one spring day in Oxford in 1954 when he conquered a challenge widely regarded at the time as beyond the limit of human endurance.

That race on May 6 when Bannister, then a 25-year-old medical student, ran the mile in three minutes 59.4 seconds wrote his name into the record books.

Bannister, though, was prouder of his British Empire and Commonwealth Games gold medal from the same year, when he defeated Australia’s John Landy in a race dubbed the ‘Miracle Mile’, while he viewed his academic achievements in neurology as greater than his exploits on the track.

Born in Harrow in north-west London on March 23 1929 and educated at City of Bath Boys’ School, Bannister opted not to compete at the 1948 Olympics in London as he felt he was not ready.

He went to Helsinki four years later with hopes of a medal, but could only finish fourth over 1,500 metres, despite clocking a then British record of 3mins 46.30secs.

A medical student at Oxford and a member of Exeter and Merton Colleges, Bannister turned his attention to becoming the first man to run the mile in under four minutes.

It was such a symbolic mark – four minutes for four laps – but attempts to break it were defied time after time. The closest anyone had managed was 4.01.4 from Sweden’s Gunder Hagg in 1945.

The race which would make Bannister a national hero took place in front of a 3,000-strong crowd at Oxford University’s Iffley Road cinder track.

He was supported by pacemakers Sir Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher, the trio racing for the Amateur Athletic Association against three athletes from Oxford University.

Brasher led them through the first quarter mile in 57.3 and halfway in 1:58. As the leader began to feel the strain, Chataway moved to the front and kept up the pace to go through the threequarter mile mark in three minutes 0.4 seconds.

With little more than half a lap remaining Bannister burst past Chataway and kicked for the line, using the last of his energy to run through it.

Pictures: Allsport Hulton/pa. Sir Roger became a national hero in 1954.