Four minute mile icon Sir Roger Bannister passes away at 88 - 247 News
SIR Roger Bannister — the first athlete to run a mile in under four minutes — has died, his family said today.Sebastian Coe and Theresa May led tributes to the running legend who also had a distinguished career as a top doctor.The 88-year-old passed away at home in Oxford after battling Parkinson's.Sir Roger completed a mile in just 3mins 59.4secs in May 1954.He had little training and practised while studying to be a junior doctor.He went on to become a leading brain doc and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.A statement released on behalf of Sir Roger's family said: "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3rd March 2018, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them.He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends." Married Sir Roger, knighted for services to sport in 1975, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2011.He told BBC Radio Oxford in 2014: "I have seen, and looked after, patients with so many neurological and other disorders that I am not surprised I have acquired an illness."It's in the nature of things, there's a gentle irony to it." Bannister, then 25, was aided in his epic dash by pacesetters Sir Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher at the Iffley Road in Oxford on May 6 1954.That year he also won a Commonwealth and European Championship gold medal.Sir Roger Bannister recalls the moment his record time was announced On the announcement of his record sub-four minute run on 6 May 1954 by Norris McWhirter: "He had carefully rehearsed.He announced: 'The result of event No.8, 1 mile, was R.G.Bannister, of Merton and Exeter Colleges, in a time which subject to ratification, is a new track record, a new British all-comers record, a new European record, a new Commonwealth Empire record, a new world record in 3.'"That was when the crowd exploded and we didn't hear any more.It didn't matter what the rest was."If the number of people who have come up to me saying they were there, they would have fit into Wembley Stadium."Matter of fact, there weren't more than 1,500.I hadn't advertised the fact."Word got out that I might break the 4-minute mile, but I didn't want to be rail-roaded to being committed to running it if the conditions were absolutely hopeless." Speaking of his feat in 2012, Sir Roger said: "It's amazing that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have broken the 4-minute mile." He added as the 50th anniversary approached in 2004 that he viewed his achievement as a boost to post-war Britain.He said: "It became a symbol of attempting a challenge in the physical world of something hitherto thought impossible "I'd like to see it as a metaphor not only for sport, but for life and seeking challenges".Australian John Landy surpassed Bannister's record just a month later with a time of 3:57.9.Sir Roger then quit running to focus on his career in medicine — but did not turn his back on sport entirely.He went on to be the first chairman of the Sports Council, and was a leading advocat
SIR Roger Bannister — the first athlete to run a mile in under four minutes — has died, his family said today.Sebastian Coe and Theresa May led tributes to the running legend who also had a distinguished career as a top doctor.The 88-year-old passed away at home in Oxford after battling Parkinson's.Sir Roger completed a mile in just 3mins 59.4secs in May 1954.He had little training and practised while studying to be a junior doctor.He went on to become a leading brain doc and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.A statement released on behalf of Sir Roger's family said: "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3rd March 2018, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them.He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends." Married Sir Roger, knighted for services to sport in 1975, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2011.He told BBC Radio Oxford in 2014: "I have seen, and looked after, patients with so many neurological and other disorders that I am not surprised I have acquired an illness."It's in the nature of things, there's a gentle irony to it." Bannister, then 25, was aided in his epic dash by pacesetters Sir Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher at the Iffley Road in Oxford on May 6 1954.That year he also won a Commonwealth and European Championship gold medal.Sir Roger Bannister recalls the moment his record time was announced On the announcement of his record sub-four minute run on 6 May 1954 by Norris McWhirter: "He had carefully rehearsed.He announced: 'The result of event No.8, 1 mile, was R.G.Bannister, of Merton and Exeter Colleges, in a time which subject to ratification, is a new track record, a new British all-comers record, a new European record, a new Commonwealth Empire record, a new world record in 3.'"That was when the crowd exploded and we didn't hear any more.It didn't matter what the rest was."If the number of people who have come up to me saying they were there, they would have fit into Wembley Stadium."Matter of fact, there weren't more than 1,500.I hadn't advertised the fact."Word got out that I might break the 4-minute mile, but I didn't want to be rail-roaded to being committed to running it if the conditions were absolutely hopeless." Speaking of his feat in 2012, Sir Roger said: "It's amazing that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have broken the 4-minute mile." He added as the 50th anniversary approached in 2004 that he viewed his achievement as a boost to post-war Britain.He said: "It became a symbol of attempting a challenge in the physical world of something hitherto thought impossible "I'd like to see it as a metaphor not only for sport, but for life and seeking challenges".Australian John Landy surpassed Bannister's record just a month later with a time of 3:57.9.Sir Roger then quit running to focus on his career in medicine — but did not turn his back on sport entirely.He went on to be the first chairman of the Sports Council, and was a leading advocat