In the early 50s, many people were obsessed with the 4 minute mile barrier.  No one had ever been able to run a mile in under 4 minutes and many people across the world were obsessed over who would do it first.

It was on this day, May 6th, 1954, that 25 year old medical student Roger Bannister ran a mile in under 4 minutes.  Bannister did have two runners, named Brasher and Chataway, who set the pace for him.

Many people believed the 4 minute mile to be impossible.  But Roger Bannister proved that it could be done. Bannister was named the 1954 Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in recognition for his accomplishment of breaking the 4 minute mile barrier.