Sir Roger Bannister Considered Retirement Before 4 Minute Mile
Sir Roger Bannister has revealed how his fourth place at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics changed sporting history.
By The British Broadcasting Corporation
He planned to retire if he won gold at the Games - and would not have gone on to run the first sub-4 minute Mile.
The 83-year-old told BBC Radio 5 live Sport , in an interview to be broadcast on July 4: "I had to decide whether I would retire, which I would have done had I won the Olympic gold.
"Or I could carry on to the European games so decided on that and I then had the prospect of the 4 minute Mile."
Sir Roger became the first man to run the Mile in under 4 minutes at Iffley Road track in Oxford on May 6, 1954.
Two years earlier he had been considered favorite for the 1500 meters at the Helsinki Olympics but an unusual schedule at the Games affected his chances.
Continue reading at: bbc.co.uk
