The Ultimate The Four Minute Mile Quiz | Track & Field

Answer: Roger Bannister

Roger Bannister was possibly the first top class athlete to adopt a scientific approach to his training methods. Studying to be a Doctor of Medicine (he put in a full day at his training hospital on the day that he broke the record) he had a small room kitted out with a treadmill (not automatic) oxygen mask and heart monitor.

He would drive himself into the ground running on the treadmill in order to assess his lung/heart capacity and to assess his ability to run the mile under four minutes. Conditions were not good on the day, very blowy, and Bannister was not hopeful of gaining the required result. Nevertheless, he achieved his aim and the flood gates opened as one after another of his competitors broke the 'magic' barrier.

Answer: 3:59.4.

Because of the windy conditions Bannister had to run harder, to beat the four minute barrier, than he intended. He reckoned that his run was equivalent to a 3:56 mile. At 1500 metres he clocked 3:43 which was world record pace, but fifty yards from the finish he looked, and was, completely used up. Somehow he kept his momentum and went into the history books as 'First to...'

Answer: Chris Chataway & Chris Brasher

Both Chataway and Brasher were fine athletes in their own right. Chataway was an excellent 5,000 metre/three miler and Brasher went on to win Olympic gold in the 3,000 metre Steeplechase in Melbourne.

Answer: English

Roger Bannister was born in 1929 and typified the 'gentleman amateur'. He studied medicine at Oxford and was later awarded a Knighthood for his achievments. His inspiration for athletics would seem to have been another great old English miler, Sydney Wooderson.

Answer: John Landy

At Turku in Finland just 46 days after Bannister's epic achievement, John Landy of Australia smashed Bannister's record by a second and a half: his time was 3:58.0. Landy's run was all the more remarkable by virtue of the fact that he did not use a pacemaker.

He took the race on from the front and stayed there. Chris Chataway, one of Bannister's pacemakers and a participant in the race against Landy (he came second) was astonished. Bannister had needed both Chataway and Brasher to get him around in record time, but Landy had run from the front and done all the work himself.

Answer: Wes Santee

Wes Santee was America's top miler of the time and he was widely tipped to be the first to beat four minutes for the mile. His attempt on June 5, 1954 was a superb run but he failed by fractions to beat four minutes. He went through 1500 metres in the time of 3:42.8. a new world record for that distance and it seemed certain that he would crack not only the four minute barrier but the world record as well.

However, Santee faltered on the home straight and his time of 4:00.6 was just six-tenths of a second outside four minutes.

He had become the third fastest miler of all time but had failed to achieve his goal. Santee would never run as fast again.

Answer: Iffley Road. Oxford

The first sub four minute mile was run at Iffley Road Oxford in May 1954. Iffley Road stadium was a sparse affair with a cinder track and very open to the wind. In those days times were taken by stopwatch and they were some way away from guaging performance times down to the thousandths of a second.

Answer: Empire Games

Landy and Bannister came together on August 7, 1954 at Vancouver, Canada in what was then known as the Empire Games. Billed as 'The Mile of the Century', it was one of the most eagerly awaited contests ever seen in athletics. Such was the excitement generated by this race that the rest of the Games became mere window dressing. Landy was a strong favorite to win by virtue of his recent times and seemingly greater stamina. Observing his training methods one athlete commented "He (Landy) certainly is a machine." Landy predicted that a 4:02 mile would be enough to beat Bannister and that was a time that he could run easily in his present form.

Answer: Roger Bannister

Landy, realising that he must have a fast pace, took the lead shortly before the end of the first lap. Once into his rhythm he quickly put distance between himself and the rest of the field. At the half way mark Landy had put 10 yards between himself and Bannister.

At this stage Bannister was having trouble. Unlike Landy he needed someone to 'pull' him round the track and the distance between them was becoming too great. Landy opened the lead to 15 yards. Bannister increased his speed in order to regain contact and at the bell he was at Landy's elbow. With 220 yards to go Landy had a lead of three yards and looked set to win.

But as they entered the final straight Bannister unleashed his famed final kick and swept past Landy to win by some four yards.

The winning time was 3:58.6.

Answer: Derek Ibbotson

Derek Ibbotson from Yorkshire in England broke Landy's record at White City on July 19, 1957. His time of 3:57.2 heralded another rush of fast times and the record dropped with increasing regularity. John Walker of New Zealand became the first man to break the 3:50 barrier, when he ran 3:49.4 on August 12, 1975.