He was “surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them,” the family said in a statement Sunday. The black-and-white image of Bannister, eyes closed, head back, mouth wide open, straining across the tape at Oxford’s Iffley Road track, endures as a defining snapshot of a transcendent moment in track and field history.īannister died peacefully in Oxford on Saturday at the age of 88. The 3 was all that mattered.īannister had just become the first runner to break the mythical 4-minute barrier in the mile – a feat of speed and endurance that stands as one of the seminal sporting achievements of the 20th century. The rest was drowned out by the roar of the crowd. His long arms and legs pumping, his lungs gasping for air, he put on a furious kick over the final 300 yards and nearly collapsed as he crossed the finish line. With two friends acting as pacemakers, Bannister churned around the cinder track four times. Bannister glanced up again and saw the flag fluttering oh-so gently. Not exactly the ideal conditions for running four laps around a track faster than many thought humanly possible.Ī lanky Oxford medical student named Roger Bannister looked up at the white-and-red English flag whipping in the wind atop a nearby church and figured he would have to call off the record attempt.īut then, shortly after 6 p.m. LONDON – It was a typical British afternoon in early May: wet, cool and blustery.

Roger bannister race