However, he was further inspired to become a great miler by watching the 1948 Olympics. He was selected as an Olympic "possible" in 1948 but declined as he felt he was not ready to compete at that level. His training was light, even compared to the standards of the day, but he showed promise in running a mile in 1947 in 4:24.6 on only three weekly half-hour training sessions. He had never worn running spikes previously or run on a track. Like Wooderson, Bannister would ultimately set a mile record, see it broken, and then set a new personal best slower than the new record.īannister started his running career at Oxford in the autumn of 1946 at the age of 17. Wooderson lost to Andersson but set a British record of 4:04.2 in Gothenburg on 9 September. Eight years after setting the mile record and seeing it surpassed during the war years by the Swedish runners Arne Andersson and Gunder Hägg, Wooderson regained his old form and challenged Andersson over the distance in several races. Athletics career Early running career īannister was inspired by miler Sydney Wooderson's comeback in 1945. After the year he proceeded to apply to Exeter College, Oxford and was accepted for a three-year degree in Medicine. Bannister was accepted into St John's College, Cambridge but the Senior Tutor Robert Howland, a former Olympic shot putter, suggested that Bannister wait a year.
In 1944, the family returned to London and Roger went to University College School. ĭuring a bombing raid on Bath, the family house was severely damaged as the Bannisters sheltered in the basement. Here he discovered a talent for cross country running, winning the junior cross-country cup three consecutive times, which led to him being presented with a miniature replica trophy. The family moved to Bath shortly after the outbreak of World War II when Ralph was relocated there, and Roger continued his education at City of Bath Boys' School. They married in 1925, and had a daughter, Joyce, before Roger was born. Ralph had moved to London at the age of 15 to work in the Civil Service, and met Alice on a trip home. His parents Ralph and Alice were both from working class families in Lancashire. Early life and education īannister was born on 23 March 1929 in Harrow, London. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011. When asked whether the 4-minute mile was his proudest achievement, he said he felt prouder of his contribution to academic medicine through research into the responses of the nervous system. As Master of Pembroke, he was on the governing body of Abingdon School from 1986 to 1993. Bannister's record lasted just 46 days.īannister went on to become a neurologist and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford, before retiring in 1993.
He had attained this record with minimal training, while practising as a junior doctor.
When the announcer, Norris McWhirter, declared "The time was three.", the cheers of the crowd drowned out Bannister's exact time, which was 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. He accomplished this feat on at Iffley Road track in Oxford, with Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher providing the pacing. This achievement strengthened his resolve to become the first athlete to finish the mile run in under four minutes. Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister CH CBE FRCP (23 March 1929 – 3 March 2018) was an English neurologist and middle-distance athlete who ran the first sub- 4-minute mile.Īt the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki, Bannister set a British record in the 1500 metres and finished in fourth place.
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