One of the most remarkable - and controversial - figures sporting figures in
British history, Chris Brasher piled unique achievement on unique achievement.
It was Chris Brasher who, along with Chris Chataway, paced Roger Bannister to
break the 4-minute mile. Then he won his own Olympic Gold Medal in the
steeplechase at the 1956 Olympics. Probably best known now for founding the
London Marathon, Chris went on to become one of the founders of the modern
sports of fell-running and orienteering. At the Observer, he also effectively
invented modern sports feature writing. Plus, he also invented the
now-ubiquitous Brasher walking boot, with the revolutionary aim of making