86 Quotes by Roger Bannister

It had always been a British preoccupation to hold this mile record.

My introduction to track racing was through the background of cross country running, which is not a sport perhaps as popular in America as it is in England.

I think that is a universal adolescent feeling, trying to find your place. The adolescent who is perfectly adjusted to his environment, I've yet to meet.

May is a very early time in the year and the weather is usually bad. You cannot run a fast mile race if there is a strong wind, because it makes your running uneven.

Mothers, unless they were very poor, didn't work. Both of my parents had to leave education. My mother had to work in a cotton mill until 18 or 19, when she took some training in domestic science.

My athleticism was really the core to social acceptance, because in those days the overwhelming number of students came from more of a public school background than I did.

The Athletic Association competed against the University. So there was an event. You cannot break world records unless it is an established event, and you have three timekeepers, and the whole thing is organized.

I don't attach the importance to it as a lot of other people do,

I did lose my sight for a bit because I was crowded in. Everybody rushed on to the track. Then a couple of minutes later the announcement came.