Roger Bannister – age 88 – RIP

[Swerd]

Sir Roger Bannister, the first to run a mile in under 4 minutes, died the other day at age 88. When I ran track in high school & (briefly) in college, he was a personal hero. He was among the last world class runners who was truly amateur. In May 1954, he set his world record in the mile while he was a medical student.

This famous photo of his record setting run inspired me in more ways than one. I ran the half-mile and the mile, but never set any records at all, other than personal best times. As a senior in high school, in 1966, I designed our track team uniform shirt, based on this photo. Our new track & field coach (he was also my biology teacher) had to order new uniform shirts for the spring. He told me and a few other seniors that he thought our old shirts were boring and dull, asking if we had any ideas. I copied this black & white photo, using school colors for the horizontal stripes (black-blue-black), and the letters WW (for Walt Whitman HS) inside the circular patch in front. The coach liked it and soon ordered 50 new shirts in that design. Seeing the photos of Roger Bannister reminded me of that.

 

[TLS Guy]

Roger Bannister, the first to run a mile in under 4 minutes, died the other day at age 88. When I ran track in high school & (briefly) in college, he was a personal hero. He was among the last world class runners who was truly amateur. In May 1954, he set his world record in the mile while he was a medical student.

This famous photo of his record setting run inspired me in more ways than one. I ran the half-mile and the mile, but never set any records at all, other than personal best times. As a senior in high school, in 1966, I designed our track team uniform shirt, based on this photo. Our new track & field coach (he was also my biology teacher) had to order new uniform shirts for the spring. He told me and a few other seniors that he thought our old shirts were boring and dull, asking if we had any ideas. I copied this black & white photo, using school colors for the horizontal stripes (black-blue-black), and the letters WW (for Walt Whitman HS) inside the circular patch in front. The coach liked it and soon ordered 50 new shirts in that design. Seeing the photos of Roger Bannister reminded me of that.

Sir Roger Bannister will always be remembered as the man who ran under the 4 minute mile. However he was an outstanding physician, neurologist and research scientist who made many contributions. He was Master of Pembroke College, Oxford University. He made outstanding contributions in understanding of oxygen lack and the micro circulation of the brain. He also did research on the Shy - Dreager syndrome. He was awarded a lifetime award by the American Society of Neurology. He was knighted in 1975 and received was awarded the Companion of Honor last year.

So an incredible life of which just one accomplishment was breaking the 4 min mile barrier.

 

[lsiberian]

Sir Roger Bannister will always be remembered as the man who ran under the 4 minute mile. However he was an outstanding physician, neurologist and research scientist who made many contributions. He was Master of Pembroke College, Oxford University. He made outstanding contributions in understanding of oxygen lack and the micro circulation of the brain. He also did research on the Shy - Dreager syndrome. He was awarded a lifetime award by the American Society of Neurology. He was knighted in 1975 and received was awarded the Companion of Honor last year.

So an incredible life of which just one accomplishment was breaking the 4 min mile barrier.

It's actually not surprising someone in the medical community would be the first to break the barrier in the 50s. They would have some of the best access to advances in supplements and training.

Truly a remarkable milestone given how hard it is to pace a mile properly.

 

[Ponzio]

good read
https://deadspin.com/the-first-four-minute-mile-in-one-pain-wracked-photo-1823544220