Roger bannister biography book

English athlete who ran excellence first sub-4-minute mile (1929–2018)

Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister (23 March 1929 – 3 March 2018) was an English neurologist and middle-distance athlete who ran the cardinal sub-4-minute mile.

At the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Bannister go rotten a British record in prestige 1500 metres and finished identical fourth place.

This achievement brace his resolve to become distinction first athlete to finish goodness mile run in under duo minutes. He accomplished this deed on 6 May 1954 chimp Iffley Road track in Town, with Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher providing the pacing. Considering that the announcer, Norris McWhirter, professed "The time was three...", rectitude cheers of the crowd submarine out Bannister's exact time, which was 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.

He had attained that record with minimal training, longstanding practising as a junior medical practitioner. Bannister's record lasted just 46 days.

Bannister went on cross your mind become a neurologist and Bravura of Pembroke College, Oxford, a while ago retiring in 1993. As Maven of Pembroke, he was go on with the governing body of Abingdon School from 1986 to 1993.^[3] When asked whether the 4-minute mile was his proudest conclusion, he said he felt prouder of his contribution to theoretical medicine through research into say publicly responses of the nervous means.

Bannister was patron of high-mindedness MSA Trust. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011.^[4]

Early life and education

Bannister was indigene on 23 March 1929 clod Harrow, London. His parents Ralph and Alice were both chomp through working-class families in Lancashire.

Ralph had moved to London entice the age of 15 here work in the Civil Intercede, and met Alice on excellent trip home.^[5] They married put into operation 1925, and had a girl, Joyce, before Roger was born.^[6]

The family moved to Bath in a little while after the outbreak of Universe War II when Ralph was relocated there, and Roger elongated his education at City help Bath Boys' School.^[7] Here smartness discovered a talent for rip off country running, winning the ant cross-country cup three consecutive earlier, which led to him come across presented with a miniature imitation trophy.^[8]

During a bombing raid digression Bath, the family house was severely damaged as the Bannisters sheltered in the basement.^[9]

In 1944, the family returned to Author and Roger went to Introduction College School.^[10] Bannister was force into St John's College, Metropolis but the Senior Tutor Parliamentarian Howland, a former Olympic participate in putter, suggested that Bannister mark time a year.

After the collection he proceeded to apply watch over Exeter College, Oxford and was accepted for a three-year rank in Medicine.^[11]

Athletics career

Early running career

Bannister was inspired by miler Sydney Wooderson's comeback in 1945. Octet years after setting the mil record and seeing it surpassed during the war years alongside the Swedish runners Arne Andersson and Gunder Hägg, Wooderson regained his old form and challenged Andersson over the distance remove several races.^[12] Wooderson lost yearning Andersson but set a Nation record of 4:04.2 in Gothenburg on 9 September.

Like Wooderson, Bannister would ultimately set precise mile record, see it brittle, and then set a unique personal best slower than grandeur new record.

Bannister started fillet running career at Oxford misrepresent the autumn of 1946 eye the age of 17. Noteworthy had never worn running spikes previously or run on trig track.^[13] His training was flare, even compared to the of the day, but forbidden showed promise in running capital mile in 1947 in 4:24.6 on only three weekly half-hour training sessions.^[13]

He was selected pass for an Olympic "possible" in 1948 but declined as he matte he was not ready molest compete at that level.^[12] Despite that, he was further inspired wish become a great miler stomach-turning watching the 1948 Olympics.

Let go set his training goals costly the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.^[12]

In 1949, he improved in position 880-yard (804.67 m) run to 1:52.7 and won several mile races in 4:11.^[13] Then, after spruce period of six weeks sustain no training, he came outer shell third at White City be grateful for 4:14.2.

The year 1950 apophthegm more improvements as he ended a relatively slow 4:13-mile handiwork 1 July with an affecting 57.5 last quarter. Then, unquestionable ran the AAA 880 resource 1:52.1, losing to Arthur Wint, and then ran 1:50.7 promotion the 800 m at high-mindedness European Championships on 26 August,^[2][14] placing third.^[15] Chastened by that lack of success, Bannister afoot to train harder and build on seriously.

His increased attention guard training paid quick dividends, laugh he won a mile public in 4:09.9 on 30 Dec. Then in 1951 at representation Penn Relays, Bannister broke fade out from the pack with excellent 56.7 final lap, finishing engage 4:08.3. Then, in his dominant test to date, he won a mile race on 14 July in 4:07.8 at goodness AAA Championships at White Singlemindedness before 47,000 people.

The revolt set a meet record skull he defeated defending champion Value Nankeville in the process.

Bannister suffered defeat, however, when Yugoslavia's Andrija Otenhajmer, aware of Bannister's final-lap kick, took a 1500 m race in Belgrade 25 August out at near-record piece of land, forcing Bannister to close dignity gap by the bell knock.

Otenhajmer won in 3:47.0, sort through Bannister set a personal unconditional finishing second in 3:48.4. Handrail was no longer seen orangutan invincible.

His training was great very modern individualised mixture misplace interval training influenced by trainer Franz Stampfl with elements lady block periodisation, fell running deed anaerobic elements of training which were later perfected by President Lydiard.^[16]

From 1951 to 1954, Banister trained at the track condescension Paddington Recreation Ground in Maida Vale while he was topping medical student at the surrounding St Mary's Hospital.

There sentry two Bannister plaques at honourableness pavilion, both unveiled by him on 10 September 2000; pure circular blue plaque and unmixed rectangular historic plaque containing with the addition of information.^[17] According to the course, Bannister was able to in progress for just an hour reprimand day due to his medicine roborant studies.

1952 Olympics

Bannister avoided enthuse after the 1951 season inconclusive late in the spring all-round 1952, saving his energy patron Helsinki and the Olympics. Powder ran an 880-yard (800 m) relatives on 28 May 1952 magnify 1:53.00, followed by a 4:10.6-mile time-trial on 7 June,^[18] promulgating himself satisfied with the paltry.

At the AAA championships, proscribed skipped the mile and won the 880 in 1:51.5.^[13] Abuse, 10 days before the Olympic encouragement, he ran a 3⁄4 knot time trial in 2:52.9,^[13] which gave him confidence that misstep was ready for the Athletics as he considered the intention to be the equivalent sponsor a four-minute mile.

His belief soon dissipated, however, as hold down was announced there would adjust semi-finals for the 1500 collection at the Olympics,^[12][13] which illegal felt favoured runners who difficult much deeper training regimens go one better than he did. When he ran his semi-final, Bannister finished 5th and thereby qualified for description final, but he felt "blown and unhappy".^[13]

The 1500 m ending on 26 July 1952 would prove to be one persuade somebody to buy the more dramatic in Athletics history.^[19] The race was mewl decided until the final metres, Josy Barthel of Luxembourg predominant in an Olympic-record 3:45.28 (3:45.1 by official hand-timing) with significance next seven runners all mess the old record.^[12][19] Bannister done fourth,^[12] out of the medals, but set a British incline of 3:46.30 (3:46.0) in probity process.

New goal

After his allied failure at the 1952 Athletics, Bannister spent two months determinant whether to give up competition. He set himself on regular new goal: to be class first man to run shipshape and bristol fashion mile in under four minutes.^[12] Accordingly, he intensified his activity and did hard intervals.^[13]

On 2 May 1953, he made proscribe attempt on the British tilt at Oxford.

Paced by Chris Chataway, Bannister ran 4:03.6, breaking Wooderson's 1945 standard.^[13] "This enhance made me realise that nobleness four-minute mile was not victimize of reach," said Bannister.^[20]

On 27 June 1953, a mile whiz was inserted into the design of the Surrey schools energetic meeting.

Australian runner Don Macmillan, ninth in the 1500 collection at the 1952 Olympics, plunk a strong pace with 59.6 for one lap and 1:59.7 for two. He gave get up after two and a fraction laps, but Chris Brasher took up the pace. Brasher confidential jogged the race, allowing Balusters to lap him so loosen up could be a fresh put in motion.

At 3⁄4 mile, Bannister was at 3:01.8, the record—and be foremost sub-four-minute mile—in reach. But position effort fell short with skilful finish in 4:02.0, a offend bettered by only Arne Andersson (4:01.6 in 1944) and Gunder Hägg (4:01.4 in 1945).^[21] Island officials would not allow that performance to stand as on the rocks British record, which, Bannister change in retrospect, was a acceptable decision.

"My feeling as Mad look back is one be paid great relief that I upfront not run a four-minute mil under such artificial circumstances," proscribed said.^[21]

But other runners were fabrication attempts at the four-minute railing and coming close as moderate. American Wes Santee ran 4:02.4 on 5 June 1953, excellence fourth-fastest mile ever.

And sought-after the end of the vintage, Australian John Landy ran 4:02.0.^[22]

Then early in 1954, Landy grateful some more attempts at goodness distance. On 21 January 1954, he ran 4:02.4 in Town, then 4:02.6 on 23 Feb 1954, and at the stabilize of the Australian season adhere to 19 April he ran 4:02.6 again.

Bannister had been followers Landy's attempts and was value his Australian rival would arrive with each one.

But expressing that Landy's season-closing attempt dilution 19 April would be potentate last until he travelled get at Finland for another attempt, Handrail knew he had to bring off his attempt soon.

Sub-4-minute mile

See also: Four-minute mile

This historic block took place on 6 May well 1954 during a meet among British AAA and Oxford Dogma at Iffley Road Track slot in Oxford, watched by about 3,000 spectators.^[23] With winds of interpose to twenty-five miles per age (40 km/h) before the event,^[23] Balusters had said twice that take steps preferred not to run, benefits conserve his energy and efforts to break the 4-minute barrier; he would try again go back another meet.

However, the winds dropped just before the hobby was scheduled to begin, standing Bannister did run.

The pace-setters from his major 1953 attempts, future Commonwealth Games gold golfer Christopher Chataway from the 2 May attempt, and future Athletics Games gold medallist Chris Brasher from the 27 June have a stab, combined to provide pacing replace Bannister's run.

The race^[23] was broadcast live by BBC Wireless and commentated by 1924 Athletics 100 metres champion Harold Abrahams, of Chariots of Fire atrocity.

Bannister had begun his dowry at a hospital in Writer, where he sharpened his sward the turf horse-ra spikes and rubbed graphite perform them so they would classify pick up too much clinker ash.

He took a mid-morning train from Paddington Station turn over to Oxford, nervous about the pluvial, windy conditions that afternoon.^[12]

Being exceptional dual-meet format, there were heptad men entered in the mile: Alan Gordon, George Dole countryside Nigel Miller from Oxford University; and four British AAA runners: Bannister, his two pacemakers Brasher and Chataway, and Tom Hulatt.

Nigel Miller arrived as top-hole spectator and he only accomplished that he was due join run when he read rank programme. Efforts to borrow clever running kit failed and proceed could not take part, wise reducing the field to six.^[24]

The race went off as certain at 6:00 pm, and Brasher very last Bannister went immediately to rendering front of the pack.^[23] Brasher (wearing No.

44) led both the first lap in 58 seconds and the half-mile in 1:58, with Bannister (No. 41) tucked in behind, and Chataway (No. 42) a stride behind Bannister.^[12] Chataway moved to the principal after the second lap duct maintained the pace with practised 3:01 split at the last lap bell.

Chataway continued afflict lead around the front writhe crawl until Bannister began his prejudice kick with about 275 yards signify go (just over half uncomplicated lap), running the last bang in just under 59 seconds.^[25]

The colosseum announcer for the race was Norris McWhirter, who went convention to co-publish and co-edit excellence Guinness Book of Records.^[26] Illegal teased the crowd by uncooperative his announcement of Bannister's foot-race time for as long style possible:^[27]

Ladies and gentlemen, here critique the result of event ninespot, the one mile: first, circulation forty one, R.

G. Handrail, Amateur Athletic Association and a while ago of Exeter and Merton Colleges, Oxford, with a time which is a new meeting instruction track record, and which—subject examination ratification—will be a new Forthrightly Native, British National, All-Comers, Dweller, British Empire and World Enigmatic. The time was three...

The shout of the crowd drowned spurt the rest of the interconnect.

Bannister's time was 3 minutes 59.4 seconds.^[13]

The claim that a four-minute mi was once thought to keep going impossible by "informed" observers was and is a widely propagated myth created by sportswriters obscure debunked by Bannister himself nucleus his memoir, The Four Might Mile (1955).

The reason interpretation myth took hold was think it over four minutes was a circumnavigate number that lay slightly mist of reach of the artificial record (by just 1.4 seconds) confirm nine years, which was someone than it might otherwise be born with been due to the cut-off point of the Second World Fighting in interrupting athletic progress hoax the combatant countries.^{[citation needed]} Description Swedish runners, Gunder Hägg snowball Arne Andersson, in a heap of head-to-head races in nobleness period 1942–45, had already debased the world mile record chunk five seconds to the pre-Bannister record.

Knowledgeable track fans form still most impressed by representation fact that Bannister ran great four-minute mile on very low-mileage training by modern standards.^{[citation needed]}

Just 46 days later, on 21 June 1954, Bannister's record was broken by his rival, Toilet Landy, in Turku, Finland, fulfil a time of 3 minutes 57.9 seconds, which the IAAF ratified orang-utan 3 minutes 58.0 seconds due to nobleness rounding rules then in effect.^[22]

1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games

On 7 August, at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Eagers in Vancouver, B.C., Bannister, say for England, competed against Landy for the first time swindle a race billed as "The Miracle Mile".

They were representation only two men in depiction world to have broken position 4-minute barrier, with Landy quiet holding the world record.

Landy led for most of high-mindedness race, building a lead boss 10 yards in the bag lap (of four), but was overtaken on the last turn, and Bannister won in 3 min 58.8 s, with Landy 0.8 s behind in 3 min 59.6 s.^[13][28] Bannister enjoin Landy have both pointed flare that the crucial moment disbursement the race was that story the moment when Bannister unambiguous to try to pass Landy, Landy looked over his undone shoulder to gauge Bannister's disposition and Bannister burst past him on the right, never conclusion the lead.

A larger-than-life bronzed sculpture of the two joe six-pack at that moment was begeted by Vancouver sculptor Jack Harman in 1967 from a likeness by Vancouver Sun photographer Airhead Warner and stood for visit years at the entrance get rid of Empire Stadium; after the platform was demolished the sculpture was moved a short distance give out to the Hastings and Renfrew entrance of the Pacific Municipal Exhibition (PNE) fairgrounds.

Regarding that sculpture, Landy quipped: "While Lot's wife was turned into uncut pillar of salt for anxious back, I am probably greatness only one ever turned get trapped in bronze for looking back."^[29]

Bannister went on that season to out first the so-called metric mile, rendering 1500 m, at the Continent Championships in Bern, Switzerland, tell 29 August, with a espousal record in a time operate 3 min 43.8 s.^[2] Take steps retired from athletics late choose by ballot 1954 to concentrate on coronate work as a junior doctor of medicine and to pursue a existence in neurology.^[30][31] He was tailor-made accoutred a CBE the following origin for "services to amateur athletics".^[32]

Sports Council and knighthood

Bannister later became the first Chairman of justness Sports Council (now called Cart England) and was knighted spokesperson this service in 1975.^[33] Get it wrong his patronage, central and regional government funding of sports centres and other sports facilities was rapidly increased, and he likewise initiated the first testing engage in use of anabolic steroids change for the better sport.^[34]

Medical career

After retiring from contest in 1954, Bannister spent influence next forty years practising halt in the field of medicine.

In March 1957, he linked the Royal Army Medical Body of men at Crookham, where he begun his two years of Secure Service with the rank reproach lieutenant.^[35]

His major contribution to lettered medicine was in the grassland of autonomic failure, an locum of neurology concerning illnesses defined by the loss of positive automatic responses of the edgy system (for example, elevated spirit rate when standing up).

Bankruptcy ultimately published more than fourscore papers, mostly concerned with decency autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular physiology, and multiple system atrophy.^[36] Operate edited Autonomic Failure: A Book of Clinical Disorders of grandeur Autonomic Nervous System with C.J. Mathias, a colleague at Other Mary's, as well as pentad editions of Brain and Bannister's Clinical Neurology.^[36]

Bannister always said inaccuracy was more proud of her majesty contribution to medicine than realm running career.^[37] In 2014, Balusters said in an interview: "I'd rather be remembered for discount work in neurology than round the bend running.

If you offered send off the chance to make graceful great breakthrough in the lucubrate of the autonomic nerve practice, I'd take that over greatness four minute mile right send on. I worked in medicine patron sixty years. I ran purpose about eight."^[38]

Personal life

In 1955, Banister married the Swedish artist Moyra Elver Jacobsson in Basel, Switzerland.^[39] Moyra Jacobsson-Bannister was the chick of the Swedish economist Detail Jacobsson, who served as guidance director of the International Pecuniary Fund.

They had four children: Carol E. E. Bannister (b. 1957); Clive C. R. Barrier (b. 1959), an insurance effort executive;^[40] Thurstan R. R. Balusters (b. July 1960), a association director in New York;^[41] talented Charlotte B. M. Bannister (b. 1963), now Charlotte Bannister-Parker, accomplice priest at the University Communion of St Mary the Vestal in Oxford.^[42]

In 2011, Bannister was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.^[4] Subside died of pneumonia at influence John Radcliffe Hospital in University on 3 March 2018,^[43] varnish the age of 88, 20 days before his 89th birthday.^[30][31] He is buried in Wolvercote Cemetery near Oxford.

His woman, Lady Moyra Bannister, died create Oxford on 4 November 2022, at the age of 94.^[44]

Legacy

On the 50th anniversary of sway the mile in under minutes, Bannister was interviewed stomachturning the BBC's sports correspondent Raid Bonnet. At the conclusion find the interview, Bannister was without prompting whether he looked back deem the sub-4-minute mile as ethics most important achievement of government life.

Bannister replied that yes instead saw his subsequent twoscore years of practising medicine sit some of the new procedures he introduced as being auxiliary significant. He also said dump, in terms of athletic attainment, he felt his performances conjure up the 1952 Olympics and goodness 1954 Commonwealth Games were optional extra significant than running the sub-4-minute mile.

Ironically, although Roger Handrail is arguably the most noted record-setter in the mile, explicit is also the man who held the record for class shortest period of time, equal least since the IAAF under way to ratify records.^[45]

Media

For his efforts, Bannister was also made loftiness inaugural recipient of the Sports IllustratedSportsperson of the Year grant for 1954 (awarded in Jan 1955) and is one outline the few non-Americans recognised soak the American-published magazine as specified.

In a UK poll conducted by Channel 4 in 2002, the British public voted Bannister's historic sub-4-minute mile as digit 13 in the list ingratiate yourself the 100 Greatest Sporting Moments.^[46]

Bannister is the subject of blue blood the gentry ESPN film Four Minutes (2005). This film is a representation, its major departures from depiction factual record being the birth of a fictional character thanks to Bannister's coach, who was in reality Franz Stampfl, an Austrian, lecturer secondly his meeting his better half, Moyra Jacobsson, in the ill-timed 1950s when in fact they met in London only fine few months before the Be astonished Mile itself took place.

Handrail was portrayed by Jamie Maclachlan.

Bannister: Everest on the Railway, The Roger Bannister Story critique a 2016 TV documentary inexact his childhood and youth discern WWII and postwar Britain standing the breaking of the 4-minute mile barrier, with interviews come close to participants and witnesses to depiction 1954 race, and later runners inspired by Bannister and surmount achievement, including Phil Knight who says that Roger Bannister divine him to start Nike.^[47]

In greatness 1988 television mini-series The Quadruplet Minute Mile, about the feuding between Bannister, John Landy lecture Wes Santee to be eminent to break the 4-minute mi mark, Bannister was portrayed vulgar actor Richard Huw.

Places

In 1996, Pembroke College at the Routine of Oxford (where Bannister was Master for eight years) first name a building in honour longedfor his achievements. The Bannister House, an 18th-century townhouse in Maker Street, was converted to furnish accommodation for graduate students. Succeeding extensive refurbishments during 2011 beginning 2012, it became part have a good time the building complex surrounding significance Rokos Quad, and was consequently used for undergraduate accommodation.^[48]

In Strut 2004, St Mary's Hospital Checkup School named a lecture histrionics after Bannister; on display problem the stopwatch that was hand-me-down to time the race, crammed at 3:59.^[49] Bannister also gave his name to the award presented to the winning lineup in the annual athletics team match between Imperial College Institute of Medicine and Imperial School London, as well as leadership award given to the graduating doctor of Imperial College Institute of Medicine who has accomplished most in the sporting grouping.

Bannister also purchased the treat (which bears his name) awarded to the winning team fall to pieces the annual United Hospitals Cross-Country Championship, organised by London Universities and Colleges Athletics. The assistance is contested by the quintuplet medical schools in London trip the Royal Veterinary College.

In 2012, Bannister carried the Athletics flame at the site selected his memorable feat, in blue blood the gentry Oxford University track stadium at once named after him.^[50]

On 28 Sep 2021, a memorial stone observance Sir Roger, "pioneering neurologist, false champion runner", was unveiled underneath Westminster Abbey, in the leg known as "Scientists' corner".^[51][52]

Memorabilia

The Ordinal anniversary of Bannister's achievement was marked by a commemorative Brits 50-pence coin.

The reverse commemorate the coin shows the fingertips of a runner and dinky stopwatch (stopped at 3:59.4).^[53] Close to were 9,032,500 minted.^[54] The brass was re-struck for collector sets in 2019 as part make a fuss over the Royal Mint's '50 Maturity of the 50p coin', in the lead with other designs.^[55]

In the veranda of Pembroke College dining entry, there is a cabinet counting over 80 exhibits covering Bannister's athletic career and including good academic highlights.^[56]

Anniversary Races^{[note 1]}

On 6 May 2024, exactly seventy geezerhood after Bannister's sub-four minute mil, hundreds of runners converged play a part Oxford to run a knot in Bannister's honor.

The exposition saw thousands run a "Community Mile", and several races target elite runners on the Iffley Track. In the elite mi, four athletes broke the team a few minute barrier, with Italy'sOssama Meslek clocking the fastest mile, even 3:56.15.^[57]

This is the second as to Iffley Track hosted an celebration event for Bannister's achievement, nervousness the previous time being space 2004.^[57]

Retired, accomplished milers including Steve Cram, Hicham El Guerrouj, Hazelnut Bayi, Noureddine Morceli, and Eamonn Coghlan attended, all of whom have had the mile faux record to their name.

Bayi ran 3:51.0 in May 1975, holding the mile world cloak-and-dagger for three months until Noble 1975, when John Walker in shape New Zealand ran 3:49.4. Jam ran 3:46.32 in 1985, occupation the mile world record awaiting Noureddine Morceli of Algeria ran 3:44.39 in 1993. Finally, absolution 7 July 1999, El Guerrouj ran 3:43.13, the current mil world record to this mediocre, which is over sixteen followings faster than Bannister's 3:59.4.

Despite the fact that not an outdoor record, Coghlan set an indoor mile pretend record of 3:49.78 in 1983, which was bettered by Cut Guerrouj in 1997 who ran 3:48.45.^[57][58][59]

Awards and honours

Bannister received numerous honours for his achievements refurbish sports and medicine.

He was knighted in the 1975 Advanced Year Honours,^[60] and appointed Participant of the Order of rank Companions of Honour (CH) bond the 2017 New Year Distinctions for services to sport.^[61]

Bannister was an Honorary Fellow of both Exeter College^[62] and Merton College,^[63] where he studied at picture University of Oxford; he was also Honorary Fellow of Writer Manchester College, Oxford.

He conventional honorary degrees (Doctor of Science) from the University of City in 1978,^[64] and from illustriousness University of Bath in 1984.^[65] He also received honorary calibration from the University of Pavia in 1986 and from Brunel University London in 2008 (DUniv), as well as an intentional doctorate from Oxford Brookes Introduction in 2014.^[66] In 2000, Balusters received the Golden Plate Bestow of the American Academy condemn Achievement.^[67]

Bannister was made an Titular Freeman of the London District of Harrow on 4 Might 2004,^[68] and was granted magnanimity Freedom of the City unmoving Oxford in 2004.^[69]

Selected publications

Autobiography

Academic

Other media

In 2014, he appeared as shipshape and bristol fashion guest on BBC Radio 4's Midweek with Libby Purves, Kevin Warwick and Rachael Stirling.^[70]

References

Citations