It had always been a British preoccupation to hold this mile record.

Quote by Roger Bannister

Topics: Roger Bannister Quotes

Athletics is a luxury.

Athletics is a luxury.

Your spikes, which were really quite long then, would catch the material of the track...

Your spikes, which were really quite long then, would catch the material of the track...

You get very tired, and there was a certain amount of pain and you slow...

You get very tired, and there was a certain amount of pain and you slow...

I came from such a simple origin, without any great privilege, and I would say...

I came from such a simple origin, without any great privilege, and I would say...

My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great...

My family actually lived in the same village for about 400 years. They had great...

I couldn't disappoint people. I did not want to fail and exhaust myself, because I...

I couldn't disappoint people. I did not want to fail and exhaust myself, because I...

May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad....

May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad....

Life was very simple. My parents had come from the North of England, which is...

Life was very simple. My parents had come from the North of England, which is...

I raced supremely well. I felt I was as well fitted to do it as...

I raced supremely well. I felt I was as well fitted to do it as...

I was involved in music, acting, and some running, but my firm wish was to...

I was involved in music, acting, and some running, but my firm wish was to...

I was always a great bundle of energy. As a child, instead of walking, I...

I was always a great bundle of energy. As a child, instead of walking, I...

It's a question of spreading the available energy, aerobic and anaerobic, evenly over four minutes....

It's a question of spreading the available energy, aerobic and anaerobic, evenly over four minutes....

I've always been very impatient. At age 10 I frankly found life boring, and I...

I've always been very impatient. At age 10 I frankly found life boring, and I...

I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.

I found longer races boring. I found the mile just perfect.

My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is...

My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is...

I was playing rugby and the other games English school children do, and there was...

I was playing rugby and the other games English school children do, and there was...

My athleticism was really the core to social acceptance, because in those days the overwhelming...

My athleticism was really the core to social acceptance, because in those days the overwhelming...

My concentration was really on getting to university and becoming a doctor. My parents let...

My concentration was really on getting to university and becoming a doctor. My parents let...

Our house was bombed, and the roof fell in. We were sitting under the stairs...

Our house was bombed, and the roof fell in. We were sitting under the stairs...

I lived on the top of one hill and the school was at the top...

I lived on the top of one hill and the school was at the top...