The spikes worn by Sir Roger Bannister when he ran the first sub-four-minute mile have sold at auction for £220,000.
Sir Roger, now 86, achieved his record-breaking feat at Oxford's Iffley Road track on 6 May 1954 when he was 25.
The shoes, made by GT Law and Son, had a reserve price of £30,000 to £50,000 at Christie's in London.
Sir Roger said they were "the last tangible link" he had to his achievement.
The hammer price for the sale was £220,000 which rises to £266,500 with buyer's premium.
He said they had "served me great purpose, I'm grateful to them" but added: "I think it's the right time to part with them."
Kate Summers, from Christie's, said: "When bidding opened there was great anticipation. After two-and-a-half minutes of bidding, they were sold to an anonymous buyer on the telephone."
The shoes were presented with an accompanying letter of provenance signed by Sir Roger and a letter written to him by his friend Eustace Thomas commenting on their "lightness".
"I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible," Sir Roger said.
"The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner."
Sir Roger said he planned to give some of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust, as it "encourages the area of neurological research to which I have devoted most of my life".
"Other worthwhile causes in which I have an interest will also benefit," he added.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 1:36 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
Does that mean the shoes of Chris x 2 are worth 2/3 and 1/3 respectively?
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:27 pm
by rubato
The 4-minute mile was pseudo-barrier which only appeared to be real because so few people contested it.
Mile 3:53.43 Alan Webb (South Lakes, Reston, Virginia) Eugene, Oregon 5/27/01
yrs,
rubato
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 3:43 pm
by Guinevere
*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:24 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
no woman has yet to run a four-minute mile
My gosh! They've all run a four minute mile and I've never even run for four minutes! No woman also no cry
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:31 pm
by Guinevere
Fixed. Good lord, I'm tired today.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:36 pm
by wesw
fix and re-fix were sittin' on a fence.
fix fell off
who was left?
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:37 pm
by rubato
Guinevere wrote:*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.
The physicians and physiologists of that time were talking out of their asses because the attention of the media was too much for them, as the history has shown.
yrs,
rubato
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:39 pm
by wesw
it s a worthless thing because an Englishman did it
yrs
rubato
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 4:41 pm
by Guinevere
rubato wrote:
Guinevere wrote:*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.
The physicians and physiologists of that time were talking out of their asses because the attention of the media was too much for them, as the history has shown.
yrs,
rubato
Or, science and the understanding of biomechanics has evolved over time.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:09 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
Guinevere wrote:Fixed. Good lord, I'm tired today.
No, sorry. It still claims that all women have run a sub-four minute mile.
I think you mean "but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile"
Ain't I a little beam of sunshine?
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 5:19 pm
by Guinevere
No, you're a total pita.
You knew what I meant, so I was able to successfully communicate my point.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 6:27 pm
by MajGenl.Meade
Guinevere wrote:No, you're a total pita.
How'd you know my name? It's that FB thing again, durnit!
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Fri Sep 11, 2015 11:26 pm
by Gob
wesw wrote:it s a worthless thing because an Englishman did it
yrs
rubato
Nailed it wes. But there again, it was only rubato, so don't get too excited.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Sat Sep 12, 2015 1:18 am
by Long Run
Guinevere wrote:*Male* high school students started breaking that barrier in the 60s, and masters men in 1994, but no woman has yet to run a sub four-minute mile and it was more than just a psychological barrier. Physicians and physiologists didn't think the human body could make that mark.
Bannister's time on a mediocre cinder track, wearing those 220,000 pound spikes, on a less than ideal day, would easily translate to low 3:50s in the typical elite track event now. The only American high-schooler who approached Bannister's "conditions-adujsted" effort was Jim Ryun. And still, breaking 4 by a sub-19 year old is still a rare occurrence, at least in the northern regions.
Re: Shoes going fast!
Posted: Sun Sep 13, 2015 3:23 am
by wesw
yeah, I noticed how rough that track was. even with spikes it has to be slower than modern tracks.
