This historic event took place on May 6, 1954 during a meet between British AAA and Oxford University at Iffley Road Track in Oxford. It was watched by about 3,000 spectators. With winds up to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h) prior to the event, Bannister had said twice that he favoured not running, to conserve his energy and efforts to break the 4-minute barrier; he would try again at another meet. However, the winds dropped just before the race was scheduled to begin, and Bannister did run. His time was 3 min 59.4 s. Two other runners, Brasher and Chataway, provided pacing while completing the race. Both went on to establish their own track careers. The race was broadcast live by BBC Radio and commented on by Harold Abrahams, of "Chariots of Fire" fame.
Roger Bannister
The first sub four minute mile was run May 6, 1954 by Roger Bannister of Great Britain in Oxford, England.
Was first to run a mile in under four minutes
The first ever sub-four minute mile was run by Roger Bannister on May 6th, 1954.
Roger Bannister
The two runners that paced Roger Bannister in the race were Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway. Click on the 'Video of the First Sub Four Minute Mile' link on this page to see a tape of that historic race.
Six weeks after Roger Bannister broke the four minute mile barrier Australian John Landy broke Bannister's record with a time of 3:57.9.
Roger Bannister was the first person to run a mile race in less than four minutes. Click on the Roger Bannister link on this page to read about his life and all of the things he accomplished.There were 2 TV films about Roger Bannister:* The Four Minute Mile (1988, with actor Richard Huw as Bannister) * Four Minutes (2005, with Jamie Machlachlan as Bannister) The film Chariots of Fire was about running, but not about Roger Bannister.
The Perfect Mile is a book by Neal Bascomb, and a movie. The subject matter is about three men who all wanted to be the first to run the "four-minute mile" in the mid-1950's; Roger Bannister, John Landy and Wes Santee. All succeeded in running a mile in under four minutes, but Roger Bannister, from England, was the first.
Rodger bannister
The first 4 minute mile was run by Roger Banister.
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, the first man to run a mile race in less than four minutes.