Faith Kipyegon believes a woman running a sub-four minute mile is close
The Kenyan was looking to shave at least 7.65 seconds off her world-record time of 4:07.64, set in 2023, and needed to run each of her four laps an average of nearly two seconds faster.
The 31-year-old mother was flanked by a number of pacemakers, including British Olympians Georgia Hunter-Bell, Jemma Reekie and Elliot Giles at the the Stade Charlety, carefully chosen by the Kenyan's team from among 100 potential stadia for optimal conditions.
'I'm exhausted,' said Kipyegon, speaking on Nike's official YouTube channel, which also live-streamed the event.
'I'm tired, but I'm feeling good. I've tried. That is why I came here. I would like to be the first woman to run under four minutes, but I've proven that it's possible.
'It's only a matter of time before I think it comes our way, even if it's not me, it will come one day.
'I will not lose hope. I will still go for it.'
Kipyegon's effort was still good enough for the fastest mile run by a woman in history, and 1.22 seconds faster than her own best.
Though she did cross the line quicker than her world record, set at the Monaco Diamond League meet, it will not officially count as the 'Breaking4' event was not an official competition, and the Kenyan employed the use of male pacemakers, among other reasons.
Her specially-designed equipment included a Nike fly suit, a bespoke bra and a first of its kind Victory 2 Elite FK spike, weighing about 21 grams lighter than the shoes she wore to break the world record.
'This was really special,' added Kipyegon. 'I did not expect to see so many people, but I have proved to the world that everything is possible.'
Kipyegon was out of the competitive arena for 21 months after the birth of her daughter, Alyn, in 2018, which required a caesarean section.
Asked what message she wanted to send her daughter and girls watching, she said: 'I think I will tell them we are not limited. We can limit ourselves with our thoughts, but I think it is possible to try everything in our lives and prove to the world that we are strong and we keep pushing.
'Thank you (to my team, my pacemakers) for helping me to achieve what many people think is impossible. I think we have proved them wrong. We keep on moving.'
British 800 metres Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson, who was part of the broadcast team, said: 'She's got aura. I think that was incredible to watch. She was locked in, she gave it absolutely everything.
'She still believes she is going to go out there and get closer and closer, but it's that important message that she has opened that barrier, she's left a legacy whether it happened today or not. People are going to think, maybe it is (possible) and we're going to work even harder to get close to it.'
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The National
4 hours ago
- The National
Kipyegon showed we should all chase our dreams with record bid
There was a time when the 4-minute mile was considered impossible. Doctors said it might kill you. Coaches called it a fantasy. For years, it stood as sport's greatest psychological barrier a line etched in fear more than physiology. Then came Roger Bannister. On May 6, 1954, he ran a mile in 3:59.4 and in doing so, he shattered more than a record. He shattered belief systems. The impossible was possible after all. This week in Paris, nearly 70 years on, we saw another barrier bend. Another belief remade. Another dream made real. A fellow Nike athlete Faith Kipyegon ran a mile faster than any other woman in history again. With a time of 4:06.42, she broke her own world record and cemented her place as the most decorated female middle-distance runner the sport has ever known. More than a result, it was a moment. A moment built on years of work. A moment carried on the shoulders of teammates, coaches, scientists, pacemakers and belief. A moment that reminded the world what happens when courage meets opportunity. 'It was tough, but I am so proud of what I've done, and I'm going to keep on trying, dreaming, and pursuing big goals,' Faith said afterward. 'I want to show the world, and especially women, that you have to dare to try.' That spirit the daring, the dreaming, the defiance of limits is what made Faith's run more than a race. It was a moonshot. The kind of act that leaves a lasting impression on anyone watching, no matter their connection to athletics. Because the 4-minute mile literal or symbolic lives in all of us. It's the thing that scares us. The thing that feels out of reach. The thing we don't speak out loud in case we fail. Her performance wasn't hers alone. Running, especially at this level, is a team sport. Scottish middle-distance runner Jemma Reekie was among the key pacemakers supporting Faith. Alongside a crew of elite athletes she helped maintain the brutal pace and provided critical wind shelter in those unforgiving laps. But it's not just about the physical support. Faith's partnership with Nike spans 16 years a relationship built not only on elite gear and science, but belief. Belief in her ability. Belief in the idea that women from Kenya, mothers, leaders, and athletes of every background deserve a platform to push the limits of what's possible. That belief is stitched into every detail of this Breaking4 performance. Nike's holistic approach from coaching, to data, to innovation shows that progress isn't random. It's built, tested, sharpened, and refined. But at the centre of it all, there must be a human heart with drive willing to push both mind and body. As Steve Prefontaine said: 'To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.' Faith has never sacrificed her gift. She's honoured it not just with wins, but with consistency, humility, and hunger. She showed that we should chase the thing that seems out of reach. Her amazing documentary shows the struggle and how to still press forward. We might not have pacemakers or super spikes. But we all have a finish line we're trying to cross. For me, as someone navigating paralysis, injury, and illness, the 4-minute mile looks different. It's found in rehab progress, mental battles, days where the body says no but the spirit insists otherwise. My miles are measured in persistence. Faith's performance is a reminder that personal bests are sacred, even when no one sees them. Maybe especially then. So what's your mile? Is it finishing therapy? Returning to the field? Starting something you've always put off? Or just waking up and choosing not to give up today? Whatever it is let Faith's words echo: You have to dare to try. Her run wasn't just a world record. It was a message. A beacon. A moonshot that says: this is what's possible when you go all in. History doesn't only belong to the fastest. It belongs to the brave. To the ones who keep showing up. The ones who run when no one's watching. The ones who believe fiercely that their dream matters. Faith Kipyegon believed and for those four laos of the Olympic track in Paris I cheered as loud as possible with broken ribs at the Television in the hope that she felt every step of this beautiful miles energy and truly lived in the moment.
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- The Herald Scotland
Kipyegon showed we should all chase our dreams with record bid
Doctors said it might kill you. Coaches called it a fantasy. For years, it stood as sport's greatest psychological barrier a line etched in fear more than physiology. Then came Roger Bannister. On May 6, 1954, he ran a mile in 3:59.4 and in doing so, he shattered more than a record. He shattered belief systems. The impossible was possible after all. This week in Paris, nearly 70 years on, we saw another barrier bend. Another belief remade. Another dream made real. A fellow Nike athlete Faith Kipyegon ran a mile faster than any other woman in history again. With a time of 4:06.42, she broke her own world record and cemented her place as the most decorated female middle-distance runner the sport has ever known. More than a result, it was a moment. A moment built on years of work. A moment carried on the shoulders of teammates, coaches, scientists, pacemakers and belief. A moment that reminded the world what happens when courage meets opportunity. 'It was tough, but I am so proud of what I've done, and I'm going to keep on trying, dreaming, and pursuing big goals,' Faith said afterward. 'I want to show the world, and especially women, that you have to dare to try.' That spirit the daring, the dreaming, the defiance of limits is what made Faith's run more than a race. It was a moonshot. The kind of act that leaves a lasting impression on anyone watching, no matter their connection to athletics. Because the 4-minute mile literal or symbolic lives in all of us. It's the thing that scares us. The thing that feels out of reach. The thing we don't speak out loud in case we fail. Her performance wasn't hers alone. Running, especially at this level, is a team sport. Scottish middle-distance runner Jemma Reekie was among the key pacemakers supporting Faith. Alongside a crew of elite athletes she helped maintain the brutal pace and provided critical wind shelter in those unforgiving laps. But it's not just about the physical support. Faith's partnership with Nike spans 16 years a relationship built not only on elite gear and science, but belief. Belief in her ability. Belief in the idea that women from Kenya, mothers, leaders, and athletes of every background deserve a platform to push the limits of what's possible. That belief is stitched into every detail of this Breaking4 performance. Nike's holistic approach from coaching, to data, to innovation shows that progress isn't random. It's built, tested, sharpened, and refined. But at the centre of it all, there must be a human heart with drive willing to push both mind and body. As Steve Prefontaine said: 'To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift.' Faith has never sacrificed her gift. She's honoured it not just with wins, but with consistency, humility, and hunger. She showed that we should chase the thing that seems out of reach. Her amazing documentary shows the struggle and how to still press forward. We might not have pacemakers or super spikes. But we all have a finish line we're trying to cross. For me, as someone navigating paralysis, injury, and illness, the 4-minute mile looks different. It's found in rehab progress, mental battles, days where the body says no but the spirit insists otherwise. My miles are measured in persistence. Faith's performance is a reminder that personal bests are sacred, even when no one sees them. Maybe especially then. So what's your mile? Is it finishing therapy? Returning to the field? Starting something you've always put off? Or just waking up and choosing not to give up today? Whatever it is let Faith's words echo: You have to dare to try. Her run wasn't just a world record. It was a message. A beacon. A moonshot that says: this is what's possible when you go all in. History doesn't only belong to the fastest. It belongs to the brave. To the ones who keep showing up. The ones who run when no one's watching. The ones who believe fiercely that their dream matters. Faith Kipyegon believed and for those four laos of the Olympic track in Paris I cheered as loud as possible with broken ribs at the Television in the hope that she felt every step of this beautiful miles energy and truly lived in the moment.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- The Independent
Faith Kipyegon didn't run four minutes for the mile – but this is how she can succeed next time
Georgia Hunter Bell has just finished a jog around the idyllic Tuileries Garden. It's a scorching Friday in the Parisian sun, and the 1,500m Olympic bronze medalist has started to feel the fatigue from last night's run. It was no ordinary run, either, a pacing job that didn't quite reach 800m, an event she has claimed gold in a Diamond League meet already this season. But that searing pace still lingers because Hunter Bell travelled at sub-four minute mile pace, nine seconds faster per mile than her national record pace needed to claim bronze at last year's Paris Olympics in the 1,500m. Her endeavour was all part of Faith Kipyegon and Nike 's audacious attempt to shatter a barrier first transcended by Sir Roger Bannister in 1954, and while more than 2,000 men have followed, no woman has achieved the same feat. Kipyegon was on track at half-way and only faded as the bell approached, slipping back to finish in 4:06.42, 1.22 seconds better than her existing world record but more than six seconds outside her ambitious goal. This mark will not be officially recognised by World Athletics due to the use of 12 pacers, including 10 men, and a pair of unverified Nike super spikes, the Victory Elite FK, built with 3mm more foam to further accentuate a trampoline effect that has revolutionised running in recent years. 'I'm exhausted, but I've proven that it's possible,' Kipyegon, who also wore a special aerodynamic skinsuit with '3D-printed aeronodes,' defiantly declared afterwards. 'It's only a matter of time before I think it comes our way, even if it's not me, it will come one day. 'I will not lose hope. I will still go for it.' It should be noted, for context based on World Athletics Scoring Tables, Kipyegon target, in terms of points, was the equivalent performance to a 9.61 seconds in the men's 100m (Usain Bolt's world record remains 9.58 seconds) or a 3.22:98 men's 1,500m (well clear of Hicham El Guerrouj's 3:26.00). She was not just attempting to go where no woman had gone before. No woman had even considered breaching the four-minute mark. 'Physically it felt really good,' Hunter Bell tells the Independent after practicing in the days before the extravagant event at the Stade Charlety. Hunter Bell was selected, based on height and stride length, to replicate Kipyegon's role in practice alongside the elite men drafted in, including double-Olympic medalist Grant Fisher and Team GB's Elliot Giles. The formation, devised over the last six months in Kenya, shielded Kipyegon from 'turbulence'. 'We were doing 400m reps in 60 seconds per lap pace, but it felt more like 65 seconds for the effort,' she adds. 'So it felt a lot easier than if you were just trying to run a lap on your own. And so it was cool to feel that, I think, also just from kind of an emotional, less tangible standpoint. It felt really nice. 'The guys around you talking about how they can help you out. You just feel really supported. And it really made me think that, yeah, she's obviously much better than I am. So if it felt like that for me, then surely it will feel really good for her. It gave me a lot of faith that she could do it.' Hunter Bell and her fellow Nike athletes were tasked with training twice per day since Sunday, with the team spending each day together, including meals, to build chemistry and cohesion to perfectly execute the plan on Thursday. 'I've never seen Faith like struggle,' Hunter Bell recalls. 'Like every time she races us, be that in an Olympic final, the Diamond League, she's always so clearly ahead and although she's obviously working hard, she seems totally within herself and there's no struggle on her face. 'Yesterday was the first time that I've really seen her hurting, a little bit of form going, a little bit of strain on the face. So that really just put into perspective just how hard of a feat it is. 'So I think, in hindsight, it will now be a case of chipping down [the women's mile world record]. It's not going to go from 4:07 to 3:59, it's going to be chipped away over the years like she's already taken a second and a half off. 'Think about Eliud Kipchoge's 1:59 marathon, that had some failures before it, then they got it right. So I think they'll be able to take away some learnings, then just hope that in the future, they'll be able to bring it down.' Hunter Bell is adamant Kipyegon is still the woman to do it, though a move to the 5,000m next year could derail the three-time Olympic champion's plans. But the 31-year-old revealed she is committed to a future attempt. 'I had a quick chat with her afterwards and said, 'do you think you'll have another go this year?' And she was like, 'probably not this year, probably next year'. It might take another five to 10 years to break the four-minute barrier, but I can see it going down by a second every year.' Kipyegon might still be the dominant force in the 1,500m or mile, but Hunter Bell insists her compatriot Beatrice Chebet, a double-Olympic champion in the 5,000m and 10,000m, could attack the barrier too, harnessing her greater strength. 'I actually don't think [the mile favours a runner with a speed background such as Keely Hodgkinson],' Hunter Bell adds. 'I actually think it's more the other way. I think you have to have a really strong endurance base to be able to do a challenge like that. Having a great kick is amazing. Coming through in two minutes is well within Keely's and my capability, but those two laps make such a difference. 'It's getting into the practice of running 60s consistently versus what Keely can do, running 52-53 seconds per lap. That's amazing speed, but you just can't do four of those back to back. There's just no way.' Nike will be determined in the coming months to make refinements, much like they did between Kipchoge's first attack on the two-hour marathon barrier in Monza in 2017, before returning to Vienna two years later, with tens of thousands of fans on the streets able to witness history. 'I think hosting it in a full stadium is a good idea, maybe at the end of a Diamond League as the final event,' Hunter Bell concludes. 'Then you'll definitely have a sold-out stadium, such as London in a couple of weeks, which is sold out at 60,000. Every bit of noise makes a difference. We really saw that in the Paris Olympic final last year. It was so loud and we ran so fast. So I think that could definitely help.'
