2 ms·

I have an easy time believing that no one ever ran an accurately timed sub 4 minute mile before Bannister... but I find it hard to believe that it had never bee

• defen 12y ago
  Well, consider that the first modern Olympic games were held in 1896, and Bannister didn't set his mark until 1954. There would have been no issues with time/distance measurement accuracy during that period and yet no one did it. But, as soon as he did, tons of people started doing it. And it's not like they didn't have amphetamines back then, either. So it doesn't sound implausible to me that Bannister really was the first.
• Nicholas_C 12y ago
  Interesting thought. In the history of man, I wonder how many people have ran or came close to running an impromptu 4 minute mile due to being chased by an animal or other human beings and having their life on the line? Perhaps zero. Even if a human had the genetics I doubt anyone would have anywhere close to the world class training it takes. Still, something to think about.