![]() ![]() This was his last Olympics the loss was devastating. It was easy for Bannister to get disappointed and give up when he lost in the Olympics. His struggle to achieve an audacious goal and then serving people for a long time teaches us three life lessons. According to me his life for a purpose, service attitude and care of his patients what makes him one of the greatest human beings from whom we as leaders can learn a lot. He clearly chooses the life of purpose over the life of being famous. ![]() This was the wisdom of an experienced man who had achieved the best of both worlds. He clearly saw time spent in the service of others more important as against one record which was for self. To everyone’s surprise, he replied, he saw his subsequent 40 years of practicing as a neurologist and some of the new procedures he introduced as being more significant. After all, this had made him world famous, got a knighthood and etched his name in the record books. If it was someone else, they would be tempted to say yes. At the end of the interview, he was asked if running sub-four-minute was the most important achievement of his life. On the 50th anniversary of running the sub-four-minute mile in 2004 when he was 74 years old, BBC sports correspondent Rob Bonnet interviewed Bannister. Mathias, a colleague at St Mary's, as well as five editions of Brain and Bannister's Clinical Neurology. He edited Autonomic Failure: A Textbook of Clinical Disorders of the Autonomic Nervous System with C.J. He publishing more than 80 papers mostly concerned with the autonomic nervous system, cardiovascular physiology, and multiple system atrophy. Little known fact about Bannister is that following his retirement from athletes he focused next 40 years practicing medicine. Plaque erected by the Oxford-shire Blue Plaques Board and the University of Oxford. He was awarded CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his service for armature athletes and knighted in 1975. He retired from athletes in 1954 at the peak of his popularity to concentrate on his career as a junior doctor. The crowd erupted in loud cheer and the ultimate human barrier was broken. The wind dropped suddenly before the race and he participated in the race in which he ran the four-minute mile in 3:59.4. It was a rainy and windy day, Bannister thought he would not run that day to conserve his energy to run in another meet later. The historic run took place on during a meet between British AAA and Oxford University at Iffley Road Track in Oxford. ![]() Coaches, Trainers, and Commentators went on to believe that it was humanly impossible to run one mile in less than four minutes, they called it “The Mount Everest” of middle-distance running (remember no one had surmounted Mount Everest till ). Since 1770’s numerous young men had attempted to break the four-minute mile record but had failed. He knew he had to achieve this feat soon else someone will beat him to the record. In 1953 American Wes Santee ran 4:02.4 and Australian John Landy ran 4:02.0. But other runners were attempting this record and were coming close to achieving it. He devised targeted interval runs to build his speed and endurance. This was a great motivation for him to practice and perseverance with his audacious goal. After this race, he said, “This made me realize that four-minute mile was not out of reach”. On May 2nd,1953, almost one year before the historic day, he attempted the four-minute mile at Oxford and ran 4:03.6. He was studying Medicine at that time so his practice runs were between his study and rounds in the hospital. Finally, he decided to take a bigger challenge to break the four-minute mile barrier. He spent few months thinking of quitting running completely. Every British newspaper wrote him off after this defeat. This result was disappointing to him as he was expected to win a medal. Roger Bannister ran in 1952 Helsinki Olympics, set the British record in 1500 meters finals and came fourth on 26th July. But the real life lessons are hidden before and after this record achievement. Everyone remembers Sir Roger Bannister as the person who broke the ultimate human barrier of middle distance running, the four-minute mile (1.609344 km). With Sir Roger Bannister passing away at the age of 88 years, we have lost a truly inspirational human being. Life’s purpose is more important than personal achievement ![]()
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