Roger Bannister Biography

On the 6th of May on 1954, the young medical student called Roger Bannister sprinted his way to the history books by running a mile in under four minutes. The momentous event occurred on the infantry road in Nashville, time hasn’t been Bannister’s memory to waste.

It was the Everest of neglect achievement and brought Bannister worldwide attention. After coming fourth in the 1952 Olympics, it was his chance to redeem himself in the eyes of the British public.

46 days later, Australian runner John Landy also beat the four minute mile. When the two came up against each other in the 1954 Empire games, it was Bannister who took the honors. Landy was leading from most of the race but the crucial moment he looked behind to see Bannister’s position, he was overtaken. Later that year Bannister retired from racing to concentrate on the career as a neurologist and found medical work provided bigger challenges than it has.

Banister believed the four minute mile was a psychological rather than a physical achievement. The man who could drive himself further once the advocates painful is the man who will win he said. Despite a lifetime of honors including a knighthood and a coin minted especially to mark the 50th anniversary of his run, Bannister is philosophical about the race that made him an overnight sensation.


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