70 Years Since the First Sub Four-Minute Mile

70 Years Since the First Sub Four-Minute Mile

by Philip Barker

The Museum of World Athletics (MOWA) are to install a pop-up exhibition at the Iffley Road athletics track in Oxford this weekend to commemorate 70 years since Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to run a mile in under four minutes.

Bannister’s feat in 1954 was accomplished with the assistance of Chris Brasher, later to win Olympic steeplechase gold and Sir Chris Chataway during a match between Oxford University and the Amateur Athletic Association (AAA).

The time was ratified by Norris McWhirter of the Guinness Book of Records.

The race was filmed and shown later that night on the new BBC television programme  “Sportsview.”

Bannister decided not to compete at the 1948 Olympics, reasoning he was too inexperienced   and worked instead as an assistant with the Great Britain team.

On the day of the Opening Ceremony he raced through the Wembley Stadium car park to retrieve a Union Flag from his car because Olympic Organisers had forgotten to provide one for the Great Britain team.

He finished fourth over 1500m at the 1952 Olympics in his only Olympic appearance, but 1954 was his “annus mirabilis.”

Apart from the world record, he triumphed over his great rival John Landy of Australia in an epic mile race at the Commonwealth Games in Vancouver.

He also won gold over 1500m at the European Championships in Berne.

Bannister had studied medicine and became a leading neurologist. He was also the first Chairman of the Sports Council, Master of Pembroke College, and received a knighthood.

The exhibition in celebration of middle-distance running has been arranged by MOWA and features a programme from the meeting signed by all three key runners.

There are also items donated by 19 of the world’s greatest middle-distance runners.

Included are a bust of the great Finnish runner Paavo Nurmi, a silver bowl presented to Ireland’s 1956 Olympic 1500m gold medallist Ronnie Delany, a trophy won by 1968 Olympic champion Kip Keino and the vest and spikes used by World Athletics President Sebastian Coe when he won his second 1500m Olympic gold in Los Angeles 40 years ago this year,

Running gear belonging to Gabriela Szabo of Romania, triple World Championship gold medallist and Olympic 5000m champion at Sydney 2000, is also included.

Spikes worn by 2022 World 1500m champion Jake Wightman and 2023 World 1500 m Champion Faith Kipyegon form part of the collection.

The exhibition is open for public viewing on May 4 and May 5.

Commemorative plaques honouring Bannister and the contribution of the Oxford University Athletics Club to the sport of athletics are also to be unveiled.

Roger Bannister narrates his race breaking the 4-minute mile.

Visitors to the Iffley Road track will be allowed free entry to view the display on Saturday 4 May and Sunday 5 May 2024. On the Bank Holiday Monday, 6 May, the actual anniversary, access will only be given to invited guests and those who are officially accredited for the Bannister Miles.

During the afternoon, two World Athletics Heritage Plaques will be unveiled and placed on permanent public display at the track.

Sir Roger Bannister’s plaque (category: Legend) was awarded in 2019. The plaque celebrates the world’s first sub-four-minute mile which was run at Iffley Road on 6 May 1954 and which is arguably one of the most inspiring global sporting achievements in modern history.

Oxford University Athletics Club’s (OUAC) plaque (category: Competition) will be awarded on 6 May 2024. The plaque marks the historic contribution to the development and codification of track and field athletics which at the time of the OUAC’s foundation in 1860 was a fledgling pastime with little formal structure.

ARTIFACTS on display

In chronological order…

Paavo Nurmi (1925 bronze bust)

Roger Bannister (Signed sub-4 mins programme, 6 May 1954)

Diane Leather (Silvered spikes, first woman sub-5mins, 29 May 1954)

Ron Delany (Silver bowl, 1959 Philadelphia Inquirer Mile)

Herb Elliott (1960 Olympic Games 1500m singlet)

Jim Beatty (1962 world indoor mile record spike; first man under 4mins indoors)

Kip Keino (Silver trophy, 1965 Morley Mile Trophy)

John Walker (New Zealand track suit)

Steve Cram (1980 Olympic Games 1500m tracksuit top)

Sebastian Coe (1984 Olympic Games 1500m spikes and singlet)

Eamonn Coghlan (Wanamaker Mile Trophy & world indoor mile record spikes)

Abdi Bile (1987 World Championships 1500m singlet)

Hicham El Guerrouj (1995 World Indoor Championships 1500m singlet)

Gabriela Szabo (2001 World Championships 1500m singlet)

Bernard Lagat (2010 World Indoor Championships 1500m singlet)

Gudaf Tsegay (World indoor 1500m record spikes, 2021)

Jakob Ingebrigtsen (2022 World Indoor Championships 1500m bodysuit)

Jake Wightman (2022 World Athletics Championships 1500m spikes)

Faith Kipyegon (2023 World Athletics Championships 1500m spikes)