Sir Roger Bannister was internationally renowned for the first track record run breaking the four-minute mile barrier. He accomplished this while a medical student, he went on to become an outstanding academic neurologist. Bannister’s accomplishments on and off the track are presented with a special focus on his medical career.

Bannister competed in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. He set a British record in the 1500 meter race but finished in fourth place. He was among several distance runners who attempted to run the mile in under four minutes. The record setting event occurred on May 6, 1954 at Iffley Road track in Oxford, UK. 

Bannister retired from athletics at the peak of his physical fitness. Running was important to him but neurology was his true passion. After his athletic career he continued medical training and became a distinguished neurologist. He retired in 1993. During his medical career he published over 80 papers. Bannister’s primary focus was on diseases of the autonomic nervous system including multiple system atrophy (MSA). Autonomic Failure: a textbook of clinical disorders of the autonomic nervous system, and multiple editions of Brain and Bannister’s Clinical Nervous System were among his many publications.

Banister and his wife Moyra married in 1954 and had four children. He became the first Chairman of the British Sports Council, helping to increase funding for sports facilities. Queen Elizabeth knighted him for his service in 1975.  Sir Roger Bannister died on March 3, 2018. He was 88 years old.

Bannister had a distinguish neurologic career in Oxford, UK. While he is most known for his record-breaking performances on the track, Bannister was more proud of his contribution to medicine then his athletic career. “I worked in medicine for 60 years. I ran for about eight.“