The winning time for the Miracle Mile was 3 minutes, 58.8 seconds. This historic achievement was set by Roger Bannister in the highly anticipated race against John Landy at the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Canada.
The Iconic Miracle Mile
The Miracle Mile, officially the Men's 1 Mile event at the 1954 Games, was a landmark moment in athletics history. It marked the first time two runners broke the four-minute mile barrier in the same race. The contest was particularly significant as both Roger Bannister and John Landy were leading figures in the pursuit of the elusive sub-four-minute mile. Bannister had famously been the first to achieve this feat earlier that year, but John Landy had soon followed with a sub-four-minute performance of his own, setting a world record time of 3 minutes, 58.0 seconds prior to this iconic showdown, establishing himself as a formidable competitor.
The race itself was a thrilling spectacle, with Landy leading for much of it before Bannister unleashed a powerful sprint in the final lap to secure the victory.
Race Results
The official times for the top two athletes in the 1954 Miracle Mile were:
| Athlete | Country | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Roger Bannister | Great Britain | 3:58.8 |
| John Landy | Australia | 3:59.6 |
This race remains a testament to human endurance and competitive spirit, symbolizing the breaking of psychological and physical barriers in sport.
