Birthday: March 23, 1929 (Aries)
Born In: Harrow, England
Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister, CBE was a former English athlete, academic and neurologist. He is famous as the athlete who ran the first sub-four-minute-mile. He secured a scholarship to Oxford and there he started his professional training for running. Bannister participated in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki and set a British record in the 1500 meters, but failed to win a medal. He was disappointed but he came back stronger, becoming the first 4-minute miler. In 1954, he made history at the age of 25 by breaking the record of completing the first three quarter-mile laps in less than three minutes and the last lap in less than a minute (3:59:4). Bannister was the Director of the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London, and was also a trustee-delegate of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School.
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Also Known As: Sir Roger Gilbert Bannister
Died At Age: 88
Spouse/Ex-: Moyra Jacobsson
children: Charlotte Bannister-Parker, Clive Christopher Bannister, Erin Bannister Townsend, Thurstan Bannister
Born Country: England
Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males
place of death: Oxford, England
Notable Alumni: St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Merton College, Oxford, Exeter College, Oxford
Cause of Death: Parkinson's Disease
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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At the age of 17, Bannister began his training at Oxford in 1946.
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.
In a very challenging competition, he won a mile race in 1951 at the AAA Championships, White City, which was witnessed live by 47,000 people.
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.
Bannister was the Director of the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, London, and was also a trustee-delegate of St. Mary's Hospital Medical School. He was also a Chairman of the Editorial Board of Clinical Autonomic Research and was the editor of Autonomic Failure.
Bannister earned various accolades for his achievements, like: Silver Pears Trophy, Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year award, Honorary Degrees by University of Sheffield and University of Bath. He was knighted for his services as the Chairman of Sport England.
Bannister had an equal number of achievements in medical science and athletics. But it is for his athletic triumphs that he is remembered more, especially when he made history by breaking the record of four-minute mile challenge in 1954.
Bannister married Lady Moyra Bannister in 1955. They had four children.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011. Roger Bannister died at the age of 88 on 3 March 2018, in Oxford.
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