It is with deep sadness that the British Olympic Association and everyone involved in the Olympic movement in Britain learned of the passing of Sir Roger Bannister today, at the age of 88.
Sir Roger represented Great Britain at the 1952 Olympic Games in Helsinki, but wrote himself into folklore some two years later becoming the first person to run a mile under four minutes.
Sir Hugh Robertson, Chairman of the BOA paid this tribute: "Sir Roger Bannister was one of the iconic figures of British Olympic history.
"He set records as an athlete, transformed British sport as an administrator and was a great friend, and inspiration, to many of us.
"His impact was such that people of a certain generation from far beyond the world of sport will feel his loss. Our thoughts are with his family."
Sir Roger's time of three minutes 59.4 seconds, set at Iffley Road sports ground on May 6 1954 ensured his place in sporting history. The time, deemed physiologically impossible by some at the time, will forever be seen as one of the iconic moments in British sport.
Sir Roger also won gold over the same distance at the Commonwealth Games that same year and he would later became a leading neurologist having been a junior doctor at the time of his mile record.
He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2011.
A statement from his family said: "Sir Roger Bannister, died peacefully in Oxford on 3 March, aged 88, surrounded by his family who were as loved by him, as he was loved by them.
"He banked his treasure in the hearts of his friends."