Portal:University of Oxford/Selected quotation/52

“

Ladies and gentlemen, here is the result of event number nine, the one mile: first, no. 41, R.G. Bannister, of the Amateur Athletics Association and formerly of Exeter and Merton Colleges, with a time which is a new meeting and track record, and which subject to ratification will be a new English Native, British (National), British (All-Comers), European, British Empire and World Record. The time is three...

”

— Norris McWhirter, announcing Roger Bannister's achievement in running a mile in under four minutes on 6 May 1954 at the university's Iffley Road Track. The remainder of his announcement was drowned out by cheering.

Source

Bale, John (2004). Roger Bannister and the Four Minute Mile. p. 84. Psychology Press. ISBN 9780415346061.