Bannister Landy Miracle Mile 1954

On 6th May 1954, Roger Bannister ran the first sub-4-minute mile at Iffley Road, Oxford. He held his world record for just six weeks before his great rival, John Landy of Australia, broke it by more than a second with a time of 3:58.0. The stage was now set for a dramatic showdown between the two runners in the final of the One Mile at the Empire Games in Vancouver on 7th August 1954.

This race proved to be probably the most exciting mile race ever run and is still known as the "Miracle Mile". A statue stands in Vancouver to commemorate its moment of highest drama, when John Landy looked back over his left shoulder just as Roger Bannister passed him on his right. Of that instant John Landy said, "When Lots wife looked back she was turned into a pillar of salt. When I looked back I was turned into a pillar of bronze!".

If you wish to see the pillar of bronze, see http://www.danielsacks.org.uk/html/da...

• Category

  Sports

[MrLad9]

can you imagine how fast these guys would go with the same attitude, work ethic and personality combined with the modern tracks, spikes, nutrition, analysis etc.!!! These 2, santee and el gurreouj would have been amazing

[Brian Sacks]

I quite agree

[hpy999]

I remember watching this live on teleivision in Canada as a 10-year-old immigrant who had arrived from England the year before. The race was much anticipated, and since I was English, I dearly wanted Bannister to win and to reclaim his world record from Landy. At least he accomplished the win, although for a time it looked like Landy was running away with it. As usual, Bannister ran himself into exhaustion, but Landy looked like he could go another mile

[Brian Sacks]

Bear in mind that Bannister was running with a cold, which presumably explains his exhaustion to some degree

[Kidsgrove49]

Athletics is still officially amateur even today, even though they earning their entire living from it, and pay tax!

These were the days of real amateurs. You needed a wealthy family to support you in your sport, and no smelly working class oiks were allowed in.

We used to have tennis champions too. ( Bloody good laugh old sport. )

[Brian Sacks]

Re: "You needed a wealthy family to support you in your sport, and no smelly working class oiks were allowed in."

I don´t believe that is true at all. Derek Ibbotson, Gordon Pirie etc, for example....

[quadbravo]

John Landy, complete class act. Listen to his speech at the end. Graciously accepts defeat. A lesson in sportsmanship.

[PedroGriffinoify]

What a pair of absolute gentlemen.  There's no question for me that the athletes' grace adds to the thrill of the competition.

[Jack Finlayson]

Right because you should have to come from a wealthy family to be able to compete. That makes sense.

[elvicare35]

Awesome!!!!! I can never forget the statue outside of Empire Stadium when I very first saw it!!

[daddykornflakes]

I see what you mean, but surely too much is made of this 'look to the left', because even if he'd not looked back or looked to the right instead, there was nowt he could have done about it, as Bannister had more kick and was always destined to pass him and win this particular race.

[xcrunner801]

That is amazing! He is an inspiration!

[sk8m8ollie]

Its then also important to note that Landy was running with stitches on of his feet.

[Tommytuffnuttz]

It's easier to look to the left to the inside of the bend and see where the rest of the runners are, but in this case it cost him because Bannister was so close.

[Tommytuffnuttz]

4:42 the Landy look to the left.

[Jimmy James]

probably 3:30...

[MrTrackman100]

But why look to his LEFT?? No one can pass him on his left since he OWNS lane 1. OK? Even the announcer says, "Landry looked the wrong way."