Roger Bannister

Lord Archer donated a treasure of his own – a stopwatch which timed Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile.

Lady Thatcher's handbag fetches £25,000 at charity auction 2011

Keystone Pictures/Zuma Press Roger Bannister breaks the 4-minue mile in 1954.

Four Minutes Down Fifth Joshua Robinson 2011

Lord Archer donated a treasure of his own – a stopwatch which timed Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile.

Lady Thatcher's handbag fetches £25,000 at charity auction 2011

Despite its glorious history in track and field think Roger Bannister in 1954 or the 1924 Olympic team from "Chariots of Fire" and the recent glories of the 1980s and early 90s, the British track scene has stagnated.

The Sad State of British Track Matthew Futterman 2011

Perhaps, but that was also the week that Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile.

Into the Story DAVID MARANISS 2010

On one of the chalkboards, Fretta wrote a note that harked back over the years, a reminder that it was good to dream big dreams, the way they did before Roger Bannister made history in the mile: Nobody has run under four minutes.

Zero Regrets Apolo Ohno 2010

It was May 6, 1954 at Iffley Road in England that Roger Bannister took on the challenge.

Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone: He Did the Impossible 2010

Perhaps, but that was also the week that Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile.

Into the Story DAVID MARANISS 2010

Roger Bannister had become the first person to run a mile in under 4 minutes.

Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone: He Did the Impossible 2010

Roger Bannister looked at it as just another record to be broken.

Fred Whelan and Gladys Stone: He Did the Impossible 2010