Roger Bannister achieved the impossible dream of running a mile in under 4 minutes on May 6, 1954 at Oxford University in England. Doctors and scientists had said it was impossible for a human to run a mile that fast without dying from the strain on the heart and lungs. However, Bannister disregarded the doubters and finished the mile in 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds, breaking the barrier. His achievement inspired many others, and by the end of 1957, 16 additional runners had also run a sub-4 minute mile. Over 900 runners have now accomplished what was once considered an impossible feat.