Press Release - London Marathon - 3/4/18

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

           SIR ROGER BANNISTER CH, CBE 23 March 1929 - 3 March 2018

04/03/2018

Sir Roger Bannister, the first man to run a sub-four-minute mile, has died 
at the age of 88.

He was an extraordinary and truly inspirational man. While working 
full-time as a junior doctor, he did what many had said was physiologically 
impossible when he became the first man to run under four minutes for the 
mile.

On 6 May 1954, at the Iffley Road Track in Oxford, paced by Chris Brasher - 
who, of course, went on to co-found the London Marathon - and Chris 
Chataway, Bannister made history as he clocked 3:59.4 for the mile.

This trio of world renowned athletes were lifelong friends who all achieved 
quite extraordinary things in their later lives.

Roger went on to be a distinguished neurologist and the Master of Pembroke 
College, Oxford. He was the first Chairman of the Sports Council (now 
called Sport England) and he initiated the first testing processes for 
anabolic steroids. He was knighted in 1975.

Hugh Brasher, Event Director of London Marathon Events Ltd, said: "Roger 
was quite simply a wonderful man. His achievement in becoming the first 
person to run under four minutes for a mile is one of the greatest sporting 
achievements of the 20th century. His style and grace on a track was a joy 
to see and he inspired a generation of runners to achieve that holy grail 
of middle distance running. He left an incredible legacy in both medicine 
and sport.

"Roger was the last of an extraordinary trio from a generation that 
achieved remarkable things. Roger, Chris Chataway and my father Chris 
Brasher were very close friends and I have known him all my life. Roger and 
Chris were best men at each other’s weddings.

"Everyone in the London Marathon family mourns his passing and we send our 
condolences to Moyra, his children and grandchildren."

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