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| Sir Roger Bannister |
Sir Roger in 2006. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011
Married Sir Roger, knighted for services to sport in 1975, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2011.
He told BBC Radio Oxford in 2014: "I have seen, and looked after, patients with so many neurological and other disorders that I am not surprised I have acquired an illness.
"It's in the nature of things, there's a gentle irony to it."
Bannister, then 25, was aided in his epic dash by pacesetters Sir Christopher Chataway and Chris Brasher at the Iffley Road in Oxford on May 6 1954.
That year he also won a Commonwealth and European Championship gold medal.
Roger Bannister hits the tape at the Oxford track where he completed a mile in under four minutes
The 88-year-old passed away at home in Oxford after battling Parkinson’s.
Sir Roger completed a mile in just 3mins 59.4secs in May 1954. He had little training and practised while studying to be a junior doctor.
He went on to become a leading brain doc and Master of Pembroke College, Oxford.
A statement released on behalf of Sir Roger’s family said: “Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3rd March 2018, 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.”
Speaking of his feat in 2012, Sir Roger said: “It’s amazing that more people have climbed Mount Everest than have broken the 4-minute mile.”
He added as the 50th anniversary approached in 2004 that he viewed his achievement as a boost to post-war Britain.
He said: “It became a symbol of attempting a challenge in the physical world of something hitherto thought impossible
“I’d like to see it as a metaphor not only for sport, but for life and seeking challenges”.
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| Sir Roger, centre, with pacesetters Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway after he broke the four minute mile |
Prime Minister Theresa May led the tributes to the former athlete.
She said: “Sir Roger Bannister was a great British sporting icon whose achievements were an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed.”
British Athletics tweeted: “All at British Athletics are incredibly saddened by the passing of Sir Roger Bannister at the age of 88. A legend in every sense of the word.”
And Lord Coe, who followed in Bannister footstep’s by breaking the mile world record in 1981, paid tribute to an inspirational man.
The president of athletics governing body 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.”
The current mile record was set by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj, who set a time of 3:43.13 in Rome on July 7 1999.
https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/sport/2312255/sir-roger-bannister-dead-four-minute-mile-athletics-legend-passes-away-at-88/
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