| Before 1954, running a sub four-minute mile was | | | | news came to him of Bannister's achievement."I |
| considered to be impossible according to | | | | had got into this frame (of mind) where I had |
| physiologists at that time. It was thought that a | | | | easily the best performances. Bannister had only |
| four-minute mile was the physical limit of the | | | | run 4:02 once. I'd done it six times. I was |
| human body.When Englands' Roger Bannister ran a | | | | staggered. I thought: 'Wow, what an amazing |
| 3:59.4 to break the world record, he not only | | | | performance', but I was pretty positive. I thought |
| broke a physical barrier but he also broke a | | | | if he can run that, maybe I can run it. It certainly |
| psychological barrier as well.Australian John Landy, | | | | raised my sights."Six weeks later, Landy, broke |
| who was considered to be the premier miler of | | | | Bannisters' record by running a 3:58.0. |
| that era, was at a restaurant in Helsinki when | | | | |