Sir Roger Bannister, the first athlete to run a mile in less than four minutes, has died at the age of 88.

The record-breaking British runner died in Oxford, his family said.

Sir Roger ran the world's first ever sub-four minute mile in May 1954 at the Iffley Road track in Oxford.

He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011.

A statement released on behalf of his family said: "Sir Roger Bannister died peacefully in Oxford on 3 March 2018, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him as he was loved by them.


"He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends."

Image: Sir Roger attended Buckingham Palace with his wife Moyra for his Companion of Honour award

The athlete ran his record-breaking mile two years after finishing fourth, and setting a British record, in the 1,500m at the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki.

He then made it his mission to be the first person to run a mile in less than four minutes.

With little training and while practising as a junior doctor, he went on to run a mile in three minutes and 59.4 seconds.

After the announcer Norris McWhirter declared "the time was three..." the crowd cheered so loudly his exact time was not heard.

His record only lasted 46 days, with Australian rival John Landy running a mile in three minutes 58 seconds in Finland the following month.

Image: The running shoes worn by Sir Roger for his record-breaking mile

Seb Coe, double Olympic 1,500m gold medallist and president of the International Association of Athletics Federations, led tributes to Sir Roger, saying it was "a day of intense sadness".

Olympic gold medal relay sprinter Darren Campbell said: "Thank you for the inspiration and everything you represented."

Prime Minister Theresa May said Sir Roger would be "greatly missed".

British-South African endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh quoted the athlete, saying: "We are all special."

Sir Roger Bannister was a great British sporting icon whose achievements were an inspiration to us all. He will be greatly missed. — Theresa May (@theresa_may) March 4, 2018

“However ordinary each of us may seem, we are all in some way special, and can do things that are extraordinary, perhaps until then … even thought impossible.”



RIP Sir Roger Bannister pic.twitter.com/8jkVCVlZkX — Lewis Pugh (@LewisPugh) March 4, 2018

Sir Roger went to the University of Oxford, where he studied medicine, then joined St Mary's Hospital Medical School in west London as a junior doctor before becoming a neurologist.

On the 50th anniversary of his record-breaking achievement, he said he was prouder of his contribution to academic medicine, in which he researched responses of the nervous system, than running the first sub-four minute mile.

The humble athlete put his 1954 performance down to his inside leg measurement and his capacity to absorb oxygen.

Sir Roger was knighted for his service as the first chairman of the Sports Council, now Sport England, in 1975.

For some the word legend doesn't quite cut it.



Rest in peace Sir Roger Bannister. pic.twitter.com/ZW3Y8qkvGh — London Marathon (@LondonMarathon) March 4, 2018

This is a day of intense sadness both for our nation and for all of us in athletics. There is not a single athlete of my generation who was not inspired by Roger and his achievements both on and off the track. https://t.co/8lcErw8Oad — Seb Coe (@sebcoe) March 4, 2018

As part of his role he initiated the first testing for anabolic steroids use in sport, and helped increase government funding of sports centres.

He was awarded honorary degrees from four different universities and a doctorate from Oxford Brookes University.

In 2004, he was made an honorary freeman of the London Borough of Harrow, where he was born.

He was also an honorary fellow of his alma maters, Exeter College and Merton College at the University of Oxford.

In last year's New Year Honours, he was appointed Member of the Companions of Honour for services to sport.

Sir Roger is survived by his wife, artist Moyra Jacobsson, daughter of the Swedish economist Per Jacobsson, who was managing director of the International Monetary Fund.

The couple have four children, Erin, Thurstan, Clive and Charlotte.