The athlete who famously broke the 4-minute mile barrier is Roger Bannister. He accomplished this historic feat on May 6, 1954, at Oxford's Iffley Road track, completing the mile in a remarkable time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds. Bannister's achievement not only shattered a long-standing psychological barrier in athletics but also inspired countless runners to pursue their own goals. His dedication and innovative training methods have left a lasting legacy in the world of distance running and sports history.