Sports is interesting. Record-setting performances don’t neatly line up with history-making performances. Why was Roger Bannister’s 4-minute-mile barrier break of mythic significance? Why is Hicham El Guerrouj (current record, 3:43:13) obscure outside running world?
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Mile times had decreased at a regular pace until 4 min, suggesting a psychological (not physical) barrier.
After Bannister tons of people did it--as if he proved it was possible (scientists doubted it) and unleashed expectations.


