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Just Break It — From the Olympic Games to the Wider Human World
The Bannister Effect and why it matters to all of us as a species.
1952 Helsinki, Finland.
Mild temperature and lush greenery invades the country, and a horde of athletes go north for the summer Olympic Games. Czech long-distance runner Emil Zátopek delivered an extraordinary performance. He clinched victory in the 5,000 meters, defended his 10,000 meters title, and then secured his third gold medal in his debut marathon, achieving a historic triple that remains unmatched in Olympic history.
As Finnish people take it easy to enjoy the season and the games, Roger Bannister races under the banner of the U.K. and possibly the watchful eye of a young sovereign, Elizabeth II. Sadly, while breaking records for his country, he will end up just out of medal reach, with a fourth-place finish and bolstered resolve.
In those days, it was easy to dismiss someone as eccentric or a dreamer. Scientists, athletes, and other sports professionals were clear-headed: it is…
