Which athlete became the first officially recorded runner to complete a mile in under four minutes on 6 May 1954?

Fact

Did you know?

Roger Bannister ran the mile in 3:59.4 on 6 May 1954 at Oxford’s Iffley Road track. Fellow Britons Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway provided the pace in succession before Bannister launched his final acceleration. The performance crossed a barrier that several leading runners had been pursuing. His world record lasted only several weeks before Australia’s John Landy ran 3:58. Bannister’s historical place nevertheless remained secure. He pursued medical studies alongside athletics and later became a neurologist, giving the celebrated sporting achievement an unusual personal sequel.