Who was Roger Bannister? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

British Celebrities Born In March

Also Known As: Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister

Died At Age: 88

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Moyra Jacobsson

children: Charlotte Bannister-Parker, Clive Christopher Bannister, Erin Bannister Townsend, Thurstan Bannister

Born Country: England

Athletes Neurologists

Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males

Died on: March 3, 2018

place of death: Oxford, England

Notable Alumni: Exeter College, Oxford, Merton College, Oxford, St Mary's Hospital Medical School

Cause of Death: Parkinson's Disease

More Facts

education: Imperial College London, Exeter College, Oxford, Merton College, Oxford, St Mary's Hospital Medical School

awards: 1955 - Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year

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1

What was Roger Bannister's occupation?

Roger Bannister was a renowned British middle-distance runner.
2

What was Roger Bannister's most notable achievement in athletics?

Roger Bannister became the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, achieving this feat on May 6, 1954.
3

What impact did Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile have on the world of athletics?

Roger Bannister's accomplishment of breaking the four-minute mile barrier is considered one of the greatest athletic achievements of the 20th century and marked a significant milestone in the history of track and field.
4

How did Roger Bannister's record-breaking mile time compare to previous records?

Roger Bannister's record-breaking mile time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds surpassed the previous world record by more than one and a half seconds.

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Career

After getting proper training he was chosen as an Olympic 'possible' in 1948 but he refused as he felt that he was still not ready for the challenge. His eyes were set on the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

In 1949, Bannister started to show great improvements in the 880 yard races. He also came third at White City in 4:14:2 apparently without any special training.

Within a month, the Australian runner John Landy broke his record. In the British Empire Games, Vancouver (The Mile of the Century), both runners beat the four-minute time, but Bannister came first at 3:58.8 defeating Landy.

He remained in touch with the sports by serving as the Chairman of the Sports Council of Great Britain (from 1971 to 1974), and as President of the International Council for Sport and Physical Recreation (from 1976 to 1983).

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Awards & Achievements

His most prominent role in academic medicine is in the field of autonomic failure, an area of neurology focusing on diseases caused by particular automatic responses of the nervous system not taking place.

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Personal Life, Legacy & Death

Bannister married Lady Moyra Bannister in 1955. They had four children.

Death

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011. Roger Bannister died at the age of 88 on 3 March 2018, in Oxford.

Facts About Roger Bannister

Roger Bannister, known for being the first person to run a mile in under four minutes, was also a talented pianist and enjoyed playing classical music in his spare time.

Despite his groundbreaking athletic achievements, Bannister also pursued a successful career as a neurologist and made significant contributions to the field of medicine.

In addition to his passion for running, Bannister had a love for literature and poetry, often quoting verses from his favorite works during interviews and speeches.

Roger Bannister Biography

You wanted to know

What was Roger Bannister's occupation?

What was Roger Bannister's most notable achievement in athletics?

What impact did Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile have on the world of athletics?

How did Roger Bannister's record-breaking mile time compare to previous records?

Death