Who was the first person to run a mile in under four minutes?

The first person to run a mile in under four minutes was Roger Bannister, who finished in 3:59.4 on 6 May 1954.

The historic race took place at Oxford University's Iffley Road Track. Bannister was paced by Chris Brasher and Chris Chataway, while working as a junior doctor and training comparatively lightly by modern standards. The crowd's roar even drowned out the announcer's full reading of the time.

Bannister's achievement ended a long pursuit of the four-minute barrier, but his record lasted only 46 days. Australia's John Landy then ran 3:57.9 in Finland. Later that year, Bannister defeated Landy in the famous “Miracle Mile” at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games.

A common mix-up is confusing Bannister with Hicham El Guerrouj, who holds the men's mile world record at 3:43.13, set in 1999. Bannister is remembered for being the first to break four minutes, not for holding the fastest mile ever.