On May 29, 1954, a young chemist named Diane Leather became the first woman to run a mile in under five minutes. For most of her life, Leather’s accomplishments were met with little fanfare. But in later years, the record-setting athlete, who died of a stroke earlier this month at the age of 85, was recognized as a pioneer in the sport and an inspiration to other runners.

Read the full article at Smithsonian magazine