Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold?

[JRinaldi]

Will be very interested to see the results of this thread. Would you let go of a piece of history to satisfy your own personal glory? You always hear most WR holders say that the WR is only on loan, whereas the gold is your forever. I am sure that more know who was the first man to run sub-4 than know who won the OG’s in 1952. With out looking at the net, who was it and in what time?

[tafnut]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

ask HIM.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

1952

1 Joseph Bartel LUX 3:45.2
2 Robert McMillen USA 3:45.2
3 Werner Lueg FRG 3:45.4
4 Roger Bannister GBR 3:46.0

Yes, Luxembourg got the Gold and Bannister was beaten out for a medal by a frog. OUCH!

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

FRG federal republic of germany; michel jazy[france was a respectable 1500/miler, silver medal rome, 1960, world record holder of the mile.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Of course not!

Bannister made history when he broke 4 guaranteeing his name will live on.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Ditto! Of course not! Everybody knows about Bannister's achievement--but only the most hardcore track history junkies can name, say, the '52 and '56 Olympic 1500 winners without going to the reference books. There's a huge difference between MAKING history and being a historical footnote.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

1 Joseph Bartel LUX 3:45.2
2 Robert McMillen USA 3:45.2
3 Werner Lueg FRG 3:45.4
4 Roger Bannister GBR 3:46.0

Wow, those times look like the US championship times this past summer.

[miler manque]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

I thought it was 1956 that Bannister felt should be his -- apparently having two rounds before the final, I believe on successive days, did him in, because he wasn't trained to endure that much racing. There's no question that had he won a gold, he'd be mentioned with Coe, Elliott, Morceli, El G as the greatest miler ever (Ryun would be on that list, and perhaps El G may fall off that list without Oly gold (though world championships that weren't held in Coe's and Bannister's day may make up for that hole in his resume.
But for the many millions, there still is only one miler in history: Bannister.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Bannister actually had a great year overall in '54. In addition to the 3:59.4, of course, he won the Euro Championships 1500 and beat Landy in Vancouver. You couldn't ask for anything more... He never had any intention of hanging around until the '56 Olympics. It was the extra round in the '52 Games that messed up his training (and of course, by today's standards he was practically "untrained.")

It is amusing to remind ourselves that the great 3:59.4 was a completely paced effort--every bit as "artificial" as any of today's paced races on the circuit. Today's "purists" love to hate THEM, but would never view Bannister's effort in that light. (And I say this NOT to denigrate Bannister, but to throw a little light on some hypocrisy.)

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

>>
1 Joseph Bartel LUX 3:45.2
2 Robert McMillen USA 3:45.2
3 Werner Lueg FRG 3:45.4
4 Roger Bannister GBR 3:46.0

Wow, those times look like the US championship times this past summer.>>

The times are close. The US championship mile this past summer belonged in a time warp. Top milers today have no business winning in 3:45. No wonder we sent only one 1500 meter runners to Paris.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Would RB swap a Gold?
I don't think so. I am sure he would have loved a Gold in the Olympics, but many careers were measured in between major championships. There was no money to keep people propped up and training between championships. His era gave him the big race (sub 4) + European Champs, Com Games and The Olympics. His world and his goals were satisfied. I am sure he'd want a Gold. The greatest 1500 runner tag seems to go with the WR after a time. The first man to break 4 minutes is priceless. John Landy was a couple of days later, due to the seasons and a couple of seconds faster. Everyone remembers RB for the achievement. He's in a category of his own. I can think of maybe 2 athletes in that ''class''.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Let's see...how many people remember the winner of either the 1952 or 1956 gold medalists? THEY DON'T. Bannister is the major figure of the 1950's because he was the FIRST to go sub-4. It's as simple as that.

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Assuming Bannister doesn't give a rip how he is remembered, which would give greater PERSONAL satisfaction? That's a tougher question. Speaking personally, breaking a barrier - being the first man in history to......., would be slightly more ego gratifying to me on my death bed than beating 15 other guys in a foot race, no matter what the occasion. Then again, I've never held a Gold Medal.......

[Guest]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

HE'D HAVE TO ASK IRELAND'S RONNIE DELANEY. HE WON THE GOLD MEDAL IN QUESTION....(1956)

[Django]

Re: Would Bannister swap his first ever sub-4 for an OG gold

Actually, Bannister never had a chance to run in the '56 Olympics because he pursued his medical studies, and went on to a distinguished career as a neurologist. He's almost as well-known as a neurologist/professor/writer and editor of textbooks in that field as he was for his running!