Running News Daily

The Mile of the Century — Bannister vs. Landy, 1954

It was the clash the world had been waiting for.

On August 7, 1954, at the British Empire Games in Vancouver, Canada, two men stood on the track, each having shattered the once-mythical four-minute mile. England’s Roger Bannister, the first man to break the barrier, faced off against Australia’s John Landy, who had recently bettered Bannister’s time.

Dubbed The Mile of the Century, the race lived up to every expectation. With over 35,000 fans packing Empire Stadium, Landy led most of the way—until the final bend, when he glanced over his left shoulder. At that very moment, Bannister surged past him on the right, a perfectly timed move that etched itself into sporting history.

Bannister won the race in 3:58.8, with Landy finishing just behind in 3:59.6. It was the first time two men had broken four minutes in the same race.

This iconic image, captured at the precise moment Landy looked back, symbolizes more than just a tactical error—it reflects the intensity, drama, and elegance of a golden era in distance running.

Thanks to Eric Giacoletto for spotlighting one of the greatest moments in mile history.