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British runner Diane Leather becomes first woman to run the mile in under 5 minutes; 4:59.6 at Alexander Sports Ground i

British runner Diane Leather becomes first woman to run the mile in under 5 minutes; 4:59.6 at Alexander Sports Ground in Birmingham, England

Diane Susan Leather Charles, née Leather, (7 January 1933 – 5 September 2018) was an English athlete who was the first woman to run a sub-5-minute mile.

Inspired to take up running aged 19 after watching the 1952 Olympic Games, within months Leather had become national cross-country champion, a title she would go on to win four times.

On the track, she first came to prominence as part of a team that broke the world record for the 3 x 880 yd (800 m) relay. Then on only her second attempt at running the mile, she broke the world record. The following year, having lost the record to Romanian athlete Edith Treybal, she reclaimed the record in a time of 5:00.2, then in the same week lowered it to 4:59.6, the first woman ever to break five minutes.

Historical Significance

Diane Susan Leather Charles, née Leather, (7 January 1933 – 5 September 2018) was an English athlete who was the first woman to run a sub-5-minute mile.

Events Before

  1. Hank Williams dies

    Hank Williams, American singer, songwriter, and musician, known for american singer, songwriter, and musician, died on 1953-01-01.

  2. Ernest Bloch's work for viola and piano, "Suite Hébraïque," part of his "Jewish Cycle," premieres in Chicago

    Ernest Bloch's work for viola and piano, "Suite Hébraïque," part of his "Jewish Cycle," premieres in Chicago

  3. US President Harry Truman announces the United States’ development of the hydrogen bomb

    Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884 – December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953.

  4. Cricketer Richie Benaud (22) weds Marcia Lavender at the Wesley Church in Sydney, Australia

    Cricketer Richie Benaud (22) weds Marcia Lavender at the Wesley Church in Sydney, Australia

  5. US Court of Appeals rules that organized baseball is a sport and not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court

    US Court of Appeals rules that organized baseball is a sport and not a business, affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court ruling

Events After

  1. "The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

    "The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

  2. Bhutan issues its first postage stamps

    The first postage stamps of Bhutan were issued in 1962, the same year that the first motorable road was opened.

  3. Marian Anderson is the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera, singing the role of Ulric

    Marian Anderson is the first African American to perform with the New York Metropolitan Opera, singing the role of Ulrica in Giuseppe Verdi's "Un ballo in maschera"

  4. American film director Stanley Kubrick (26) weds second wife, Austrian theatrical designer Ruth Sobotka (29); divorce in

    American film director Stanley Kubrick (26) weds second wife, Austrian theatrical designer Ruth Sobotka (29); divorce in 1957

  5. "The Millionaire" TV series premieres on CBS

    "The Millionaire" TV series premieres on CBS

More from the 1950s

Sputnik 1 Launch

The Soviet Union launches Sputnik 1, the world's first artificial satellite, igniting the Space Age and the US-Soviet Space Race.

space explorationscience technology

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

"The Bob Cummings Show" premieres on NBC (later moves to CBS)

death

Emil Jannings dies

Emil Jannings, Swiss-born German actor, known for german actor, died on 1950-01-02. Emil Jannings was a Swiss-born German actor who was popular in Hollywood films in the 1920s.

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

The European Economic Community comes into effect, better known as the European Common Market

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 29, 1954?
Diane Susan Leather Charles, née Leather, (7 January 1933 – 5 September 2018) was an English athlete who was the first woman to run a sub-5-minute mile. Inspired to take up running aged 19 after watching the 1952 Olympic Games, within months Leather had become national cross-country champion, a title she would go on to win four times. On the track, she first came to prominence as part of a team that broke the world record for the 3 x 880 yd (800 m) relay.
Why is British runner Diane Leather becomes first woman to run the mile in under 5 m... significant?
Diane Susan Leather Charles, née Leather, (7 January 1933 – 5 September 2018) was an English athlete who was the first woman to run a sub-5-minute mile.

Explore More

May 29 in HistoryYear 1954