RIP Roger Bannister

[allezfred]

The first man to break the four minute barrier for the mile has died.

Obituary

 

[ilovepaydays]

Sir Roger Bannister: First person to run a mile in under four minutes dies at 88
BBC News - Obituary: Roger Bannister

Video of Bannister's history making 3:59.40 mile on May 6, 1954

RIP Sir Roger Bannister. You lived a long and accomplished life.

He never won an Olympic medal (was 4th in the 1500m in 1952) and he did the sub-4:00 feat as a medical student. Bannister actually considered his medical career as a neurologist much more accomplished than his running career.

 

[Buzz]

R.I.P.

 

[vireo]

He was truly a trailblazer. The four minute barrier stood for so long; then after Bannister broke through a rash of other runners started doing sub four minute miles. It's as though he had to show them it was possible.

The NYT obit says Bannister worked his usual shift at the hospital the morning of his record breaking race. That's incredible.

RIP Roger. You'll be missed.

 

[ilovepaydays]

Well worth reading - Malcolm Gladwell’s tribute to Roger Bannister in the New Yorker.

 

[NeilJLeonard]

 

[skatesindreams]

Well worth reading - Malcolm Gladwell’s tribute to Roger Bannister in the New Yorker.

At the time, it was thought that the "four minute barrier" might be more than the human body could withstand; another part of the challenge for Bannister.