Chris Brasher - History

History

Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Brasher was a student of the Duke of York's Royal Military School and later a graduate of St John's College, Cambridge.

In 1954, he acted as pacemaker for Roger Bannister when the latter ran the first sub-four-minute mile at the Iffley Road Stadium in Oxford. Brasher paced Bannister for the first two laps, while his friend Chris Chataway paced the third. Two years later, at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia, Brasher finished first in the 3,000 metres steeplechase with a time of 8 minutes 41.2 seconds, but was disqualified for allegedly interfering with another runner, Ernst Larsen of Norway. The following day, after an investigation, he was reinstated as gold medallist.

He was one of the pioneers of orienteering in Britain and can claim the first public mention of the sport in an article in The Observer in 1957.

I have just taken part, for the first time, in one of the best sports in the world. It is hard to know what to call it. The Norwegians call it 'orientation'...

He had distinguished careers in journalism as sports editor for The Observer newspaper and in broadcasting, as a reporter for the Tonight programme.

In 1971 he founded "Chris Brasher's Sporting Emporium" which later became "Sweatshop". In 1978 he designed the innovative Brasher Boot — a walking boot with the comfort of a running shoe. Three years later, he founded the London Marathon. In 1983 he became the second president of the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races, an office which he held until 1987.

He was married to tennis champion Shirley Brasher née Bloomer.

Brasher was awarded the CBE in 1996.

In 2003, he died at his home in Chaddleworth, Berkshire, after an illness lasting several months.