His long arms and legs pumping, his lungs gasping for air, he put on a furious kick over the final 300 yards and nearly collapsed as he crossed the finish line. With two friends acting as pacemakers, Bannister churned around the cinder track four times. Bannister glanced up again and saw the flag fluttering oh-so gently. Not exactly the ideal conditions for running four laps around a track faster than many thought humanly possible.Ī lanky Oxford medical student named Roger Bannister looked up at the white-and-red English flag whipping in the wind atop a nearby church and figured he would have to call off the record attempt.īut then, shortly after 6 p.m. LONDON (AP) - It was a typical British afternoon in early May: wet, cool and blustery. (Photo by Topical Press Agency/Getty Images) 5th September 1952: British athlete Roger Bannister crossing the finish line at the end of the 400 metres relay during the International Athletics Meeting between, England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland at White City Stadium, London.(Photo by Norman Potter/Central Press/Getty Images) He was the first person to run the mile in under four minutes, with a time of 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. 6th May 1954: Roger Bannister gasps for breath at the end of his record breaking mile run at Iffley Road, Oxford.From left to right, British athletes Chris Brasher (1928 - 2003), Roger Bannister and Chris Chataway after Bannister's record breaking 4 minute mile run in 3 mins 59.4 secs at Oxford.Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive : CHRIS BRASHER WAS THE PACEMAKER, ALONG WITH CHRIS CHATTAWAY, WHO HELPED ROGER BANNISTER BREAK THE FOUR MINUTE MILE IN 3:59.4.Original Publication: Aldus Disc - People & Personalities - 1353 - 12 (Photo by Norman Potter/Central Press/Getty Images) Roger Bannister crossing the tape at the end of his record breaking mile run at Iffley Road, Oxford.Sir Roger Bannister, famed for being the first runner to break the four-minute-mile barrier, died Saturday in Oxford, England.įull Credit: Norman Potter/Hulton Archive/Getty Images.
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