Tributes paid to legend Bannister
SIR Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four minute mile, has died at the age of 88.
Sir Roger, aided by Sir Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher as pacemakers, achieved a feat widely viewed at the time as impossible by running three minutes 59.4 seconds at the Iffley Road track on May 6, 1954.
Sir Roger, who also won a Commonwealth and European Championship gold medal that year, went on to become a leading neurologist.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2011.
Sir Roger died on Saturday at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, the same hospital he trained at as a medical student.
His family said in a statement that Sir Roger “died peacefully...surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them. He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends.”
Lord Coe, who followed in Sir Roger’s footsteps by breaking the mile world record three times, paid tribute to an inspirational man, describing him as a “giant”.
“On May 6, 1954, Roger made the impossible possible,” Coe, now the president of athletics’ world governing body the IAAF, said on iaaf.org.
“One year after the coronation of a young Queen Elizabeth II, Roger Bannister ran the first sub-four-minute mile with the help of his friends Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher.
“His achievement transcended sport, let alone athletics. It was a moment in history that lifted the heart of a nation and boosted morale in a world that was still at a low ebb after the war.
“This is a day of intense sadness both for our nation and for all of us in athletics. There is not a single athlete of my generation who was not inspired by Roger.”
Four-time Olympic champion Sir Mo Farah described Sir Roger as “always humble, supportive and encouraging” and “an inspiration to so many”.
Women’s marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe tweeted: “Saddened to hear the news that we have lost one of the true pioneers, trailblazers and iconic inspirations of our sport. Sir Roger Bannister showed that barriers are there to be broken and there are no limits.”
Prime Minister Theresa May tweeted: “Sir Roger Bannister was a great British sporting icon whose achievements were an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: “Sir Roger Bannister was more than simply one of the greatest athletes of all time – by breaking the four-minute mile he redefined what was thought impossible, and inspired the world. He leaves an incredible legacy.”