Sir Roger Bannister has paid tribute to his former running partner and long-term friend Sir Christopher Chataway after the former world record-holder died aged 82.
Britain’s Chataway, who broke the 5,000m world record in 1954, helped pace Bannister as the latter became the first man to break the four-minute mile barrier in the same year.
It proved quite year for Chataway as he also claimed the Commonwealth Games three miles title while becoming the first ever person to be named as BBC Sports Personality of the Year.
Knighted in 1995, Chataway is seen as one of Britain’s greatest ever middle-distance runners.
He passed away on Sunday morning after a two-and-a-half year battle with cancer, with Bannister describing him as one of his best friends.
"He was gallant to the end," Bannister told BBC Sport. "Our friendship dated back over more than half a century.
"We laughed, ran and commiserated together. People will always remember him for the great runner he was but it shouldn't be forgotten that he had an extremely distinguished career off the track.
"My family and I will miss him sorely and our thoughts go out to his family and many friends who were so fond of him."
© Sportsbeat 2014