scilly

Roger Bannister died yesterday (Saturday) but how many of you know that he is commemorated here in Vancouver by a statue based on his setting the world record? It is of that icon moment when John Landy looked over his left shoulder as Bannister overtook him on the right

The Miracle Mile - 1954 - A Moment In Time - Home

http://www.vancouversun.com/statue+R...270/story.html


The Statue is still in place at Empire Stadium, next to the track where the Miracle Mile took place.

bats

I didn't know about the statue. Just to nitpick though Bannister was the first person the break the four minute mile before this event. He ran with Chris Chataway and Roger?. Brashier as pace setters. Then Landry broke that record not much later. This race was the first time they ran together.

I like the stories about him only training for 30 minutes a day, it makes you wonder how fast they would be now with modern training and equipment.

Shirtback

Right. RB first broke the 4 minute mile on the Iffley Road track in Oxford. Landry bettered that time 46 days later.

The Miracle Mile run in Vancouver was the first time they (or anyone) both came in under 4 minutes and was the first time they ran in the same race.

bats

I spoke on the phone to him a few times at work which was always a bit if a thrill. For me not him.

Oakvillian

I'm sure he'd have been thrilled too, Bats!

He always sounded in interview such a modest man, comfortable in his achievement but never dwelling on it. It's interesting that of the triumvirate, Bannister and his two pacemakers, it was Bannister who had least to do with athletics afterwards: Chris Brasher went on to produce sports footwear (he was chairman of Reebok UK for a while) and founded the London Marathon, and Chris Chataway to become a sports journalist and broadcaster.

I met Chris Chataway once: he came to my school to present prizes (I wasn't much of an athlete, but I think I won a prize for music that year so got to say hello and shake his hand).

I suppose I'm slightly surprised that Bannister's death was so widely and extensively reported outside the UK. For sure, the four-minute barrier was such a psychological "thing" that it made worldwide news when it was beaten, but I hadn't really cottoned on to the global and enduring significance of his achievement, to the extent of it making news 60-odd years later.

BristolUK

I always liked the catch question - who ran the first four minute mile? - to which everyone says Bannister. But I can't remember the correct answer.

MillieF

He was my doctor for a number of years when he was at the big hospital in Paddington. He was always utterly charming and one felt a little of the pixy dust rubbed off. A very sad death.

BristolUK

Performance enhancing substance?