- Former world record holder in the quarter mile, Sir Roger Bannister is dead at the age of 88
- Bannister was also a neurologist when he made a name for himself in the long distance running
- He is the first person to run the 1500 meters under the four minutes mark in 1954
Sir Roger Bannister, 88, the first person to run a mile in under four minutes passed away.
Bannister made history when he set a time of three minutes 59.4 seconds at Iffley Road sports ground in Oxford on 6 May 1954, and the record lasted for just 46 days.
In the 1954 Commonwealth Games, Bannister also won gold over the same distance later became a leading neurologist in the United Kingdom.
READ ALSO: Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles abandons his mother in a container
Sir Bannister Roger carries the Olympic torch. Photo Credit: Sky Sports
PAY ATTENTION: Like our Facebook sports page to stay in touch with latest sports news
Bannister was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011 as he finally passed away in 2018.
A statement from his family said: "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3 March, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them.
"He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends."
IAAF president Lord Coe, who is also a record holder ran the time of 3:47.33 in 1981, said: "This is a day of intense sadness both for our nation and for all of us in athletics.
"There is not a single athlete of my generation who was not inspired by Roger and his achievements both on and off the track."
While doing his medical studies at the University of Oxford, Bannister viewed running as something to be done in his spare time, but that did not prevent him reaching the biggest stages in the sport.
Smartphone giveaway winner announcement. On NAIJ.com TV
He was selected in the British team that participated at the 1948 London Olympics just two years after taking up running as a 17-year-old, Bannister earned his spot with team Britain at the 1952 Games in Helsinki, where he set a new British record en route to fourth in the 1500 meters final.
The medical student used his knowledge in medical studies to devise his own training regime and investigate the mechanical aspects of running.
Bannister turned his sights on becoming the first person to run inside four minutes for the mile after the Olympics and twice went close to achieving his goal in 1953 but finally achieved the feat in the spring of 1954.
Indeed, the Britain and the whole world has lost a true Olympian and the current mile world record is held by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj, who ran a time of 3:43.13 seconds set in Rome on 7 July 1999.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry visits Nigeria, speaks about Kanu, Keshi, Ikpeba - on Naij.com TV
Source: Sports.naija.ng