Roger Bannister's sub-four-minute mile shoes to be auctioned
The shoes worn by Roger Bannister when he ran the first sub-four-minute mile at Iffley Road in 1954 are to be auctioned by Christie's in September.
Made by Charles Law of GT Law and Son, the spikes weighed just four and a half ounces.
"I could see there was an advantage in having the shoe as light as possible," said Bannister, who clocked 3:59.4 for the mile in Oxford on May 6, 1954. "The leather is extremely thin and the spikes are unusually thin, as I used a grindstone to make them even thinner.
"These shoes are the last tangible link I have with the four-minute mile. All my trophies are now on display at Pembroke College Oxford, where I was Master."
The shoes, which carry an estimate of between £30,000 to £50,000, will be offered in the September 10 'Out of the Ordinary' auction at South Kensington.
"They served me great purpose, I’m grateful to them," said the 86-year-old.
Last year Bannister, who went on to become a distinguished neurologist following his achievements on the track, revealed how he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. On the sale of his shoes, he added: "I think it’s the right time to part with them and I plan to give part of the proceeds to the Autonomic Charitable Trust (ACT) which 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."
Earlier this week the BBC reported how a stopwatch which had been used to time Bannister's first sub-four-minute mile sold for £20,000 when auctioned at Sotheby's.
