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

Roger Bannister was the first athlete to run a mile in under four minutes. On May 6, 1954, he accomplished the feat in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, England. This was considered a significant milestone in the world of athletics and was widely publicized at the time.

Bannister was a medical student at the time of the run and had been training for the event with the help of his two friends and fellow runners Chris Chataway and Chris Brasher. The event attracted a large crowd, and the weather conditions were considered ideal for running. Following the race, Bannister became an instant celebrity, and his achievement was celebrated around the world.

While Bannister's record was significant, it was soon broken by other athletes, and today the world record for the mile stands at 3 minutes and 43.13 seconds, set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.