Research Catalog

Title

The first four minutes / Roger Bannister.

Author

Bannister, Roger

Publication

Stroud, Gloucestershire : Sutton, 2004.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

x, 244 p., [16] p. of plates : ill.; 20 cm.

Summary

"On a blustery afternoon in May 1954 Roger Bannister crossed the finish line in the mile at an Amateur Athletic Association meeting. The crowd held its breath - the question on everyone's lips: had he done enough? Then the announcement came, the time keeper's words drowned in the roar that filled the Iffley Road track - 3:59.4. The four-minute barrier had been broken and Bannister had stepped across the line into the history books. His achievement has been described as the greatest sporting moment of the twentieth century." "This is Roger Bannister's own modest but passionate account of that extraordinary day, his preparation for it and the races that followed when he ran against his greatest rivals to prove that his record was more than just a one-off." "Originally published in 1955 just after his retirement from competition, The First Four Minutes now includes a new introduction and a new chapter to mark the 50th Anniversary of the first sub-four-minute mile. Bannister brings the story up to date, reflecting on his experiences in 1954 and his life since as a distinguished neurologist, Chairman of the Sports Council and Master of Pembroke college, Oxford. In an analysis of the evolution of sport over the last five decades he explores the issues facing athletes now and looks at the health challenges facing unfit Britain."--Jacket

Subject

• Bannister, Roger
• 1900-1999
• Running races > History > 20th century
• Running > Records

Genre/Form

• Biographies
• History
• Records (Sports)
• Autobiographies

Note

• Previous ed.: Putnam, 1955.
• "Brand new material for 50th anniversary"--P. [1] of cover.
• Includes index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

ISBN

0750935308

OCLC

• 54860908
• SCSB-12333063

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library