Latest news with #CarlLewis
Forbes
6 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Why Aren't Track Meets Paying Athletes On Time? More On The Economics Of Prize Money
When it first appeared Grand Slam Track was having serious money problems in July, with outstanding prize and appearance fee payments in the amount of nearly $13 million still due from its meets, the response was immediate. Social media stirred into a frenzy. 'Fyre Festival Track Edition,' one Instagram user wrote in response to a post on the league's missed payments. But not everyone jumped to conclusions. There was Carl Lewis, arguably the most decorated Olympic champion in United States history, who deterred. 'Diamond League takes longer,' the University of Houston head coach wrote in a response to a post on Instagram. 'Stop hating.' Many others came to the first-year league's defense, including the likes of Caleb Dean, a recent NCAA champion who turned professional in 2024 (he was also one of the league's showcase 'racers' in Kingston, Miami and Philadelphia), and Reggie Jager III, the 2025 U.S. champion in the discus. Grand Slam Track founder Michael Johnson, meanwhile, appeared twice to confront those issues on live shows and podcasts, including most recently on Justin Gatlin's 'Ready Set Go.' The track league, which boasted $30 million in 'financial commitments' when it was announced in June 2024, initially set a deadline for the first installment of its payment plan to athletes by 'late July,' but, according to Dennis Young of Front Office Sports, it missed the mark on the heels of the USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon. With athletes still waiting for their paydays, the topic remains a core issue. While there are no answers yet, Lewis' statement did prompt valid questions about the delivery of payments to athletes in the sport. Is this issue bigger than Grand Slam Track? Just how long does it take to issue prize money won during major competitions, and what are normal roadblocks which prevent professional athletes from receiving their earnings? We spoke with two U.S.-based agents to learn more about the process, including American Track League founder Paul Doyle. When Athletes Typically Earn Prize Money The simplest answer as to why earnings are often held up is anti-doping control. For major competitions like the Wanda Diamond League, which requires event operators to run drug screening processes in line with global standards, an athlete must first pass anti-doping testing before prize money is released. Sometimes, that 'pass' could take 30 days or more. Using the 2025 Diamond League schedule as an example, there is merit to the idea of delayed payments. Doyle sent us clearance notices – information gathered by the Athletics Integrity Unit, which is then sent to the Association of Athletic Managers, and then to the managers themselves – for nine Diamond League events. Here's the breakdown of how long it took for anti-doping to clear athletes from the conclusion of each meet: According to this sample size, the longest delay was just over a month. In Monaco, where event operations are among the best in the sport, it took less than three weeks. Based on this data, athletes weren't waiting very long – at least in theory – for money to hit their bank accounts. One agent we spoke to said the process to transfer prize money to an athlete is typically prompt, too. 'As soon as we receive a payment,' one prominent agent said, 'we let them (the athlete) know. We send them a statement and tell them, 'Here's how much from this amount is deducted for our commission.' Here's what we will send you. That's the way we operate.' It should be said, too, that around $9.2 million in prize money is being handed out across 15 Diamond League events in 2025, while another roughly $9 million will cover promotional fees. Winners of most Diamond League events are netting $30,000, while in Diamond+ Disciplines athletes can garner as much as $50,000. At the USATF Outdoor Championships, a total of $1.1 million was earned by athletes, including $8,800 for winners of each event. Like the Diamond League, each has to clear anti-doping protocols before that money finds its way into their hands. Conversely, it's been 128 days since Grand Slam Track's payment for Kingston, Jamaica; 100 days for Miami, Florida; and 73 days for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The U.S.-based agent told us he feels penalties could be an answer to non-payments. 'There should be consequences,' he said. 'Maybe you lose your status, a certain World Athletics label if you're gold or silver or bronze.' On a smaller scale, however, payment doesn't always come through promptly. Doyle says he's seen this happen, though prior exemptions aren't dealing with huge sums. What he's more concerned with, he said, is the flaws in waiting to release money before anti-doping is completed. While it's crucial for the reputation of the sport and to maintain fair play, '98 percent of the time,' he said, 'an athlete comes back clean.' 'I don't think it's a good policy,' he added of holding money. 'You might have a meet where you have 150 athletes competing. And maybe 10 of them get tested. You are really looking at six-to-seven percent of the athletes waiting on doping control results.' But most meets aren't offering five- or six-figure prize winnings, either. Sitting At The Doorstep of a Deal As Johnson revealed recently, Grand Slam Track faced 'major cash flow issues' when an investor pulled an eight-figure term sheet from the books. But deals falling through the cracks aren't new to track and field. Meet directors sometimes hinge prize money around the promise of sponsorship dollars. Doyles' own American Track League, which debuted in 2014 and ran consistently through 2024, recently lost Puma as its main sponsor. As a result, the series did not convene a single meet over the 2025 calendar year. 'Meet directors sometimes have to receive funds from their sponsor in order to pay,' said Doyle, who says he's currently in conversations with new sponsors for the track series. 'There are a whole bunch of boxes you need to check in order for the sponsor to justify the payment. If I have a contract for the American Track League, we have to deliver first. Once we deliver, we send the invoice.' Costs certainly add up for any meet organizer putting on a major competition, too. For a meet to even reach the guidelines of a World Athletics Continental Tour gold-level label, it's minimum doping requirements must include '12 urine tests' at the 'cost borne by Meet Organizer," and have over $200,000 in prize money allocated. Often, the cost of hosting a meet doesn't always secure a return on investment. There's no doubt Doyle understands the economics of the low-margin business. It sometimes also comes at a personal cost. In 2014, during the first year of his American Track League series, the average expense of each meet was $85,000. 'We had five events that year that I paid out of my pocket,' he said. 'We didn't have any sponsors. I was basically able to pay the first couple of meets, but I had to wait for my company to make more money to pay off the debts.' Much like Grand Slam Track's issues, Doyle faced his own about a decade ago. But the 52-year-old agent and meet director rebounded and paid those debts. Only, he wasn't wasn't facing millions of dollars due. On the other side, Doyle says he's also experienced a few meets where one of his athletes wasn't paid by a meet organizer. Nearly two decades ago, Asafa Powell ran at an event in Belgrade, Serbia. He still hasn't been paid for it. The U.S. agent we spoke to says he's heard of others as well. He said one major U.S. meet which often features the sport's top athletes struggles to pay on time, too—he's aware of that timeline being close to a year even. Bearing a Force Majeure – a God-like event preventing an event from happening – contracts are explicitly written for meets to be held accountable for their liabilities. Most track meets can handle a small hiccup. The difference with Grand Slam Track is a matter of scale. 'You often deal with delays,' the agent said. 'It's not $100,000, though. It's usually a maximum of $10,000 or a lot less.'
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Andrew 'King Bach' Bachelor Joins Shamier Anderson in ‘Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story' Miniseries
Social media star-turned-actor Andrew Bachelor has joined Shamier Anderson in the upcoming Paramount+ and GameTV satirical mini-series Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story. Bachelor, also known as King Bach, will play U.S. sprinter Carl Lewis, a fierce rival to Canadian Ben Johnson (Anderson) who in 1988 cheated his way to a gold medal in the 100 meter final at the Seoul Olympics. More from The Hollywood Reporter 'Wednesday' Season 2 Trailer Teases Jenna Ortega Attempting to Save Emma Myers or "Die Trying" Rian Johnson's Hotly Anticipated 'Wake Up Dead Man' to Open BFI London Film Festival Christian Horner, Star of Netflix's F1 Series 'Drive to Survive,' Fired as Red Bull Team Principal Bachelor starred in Netflix comedy Coffee and Kareem, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Ed Helms and Betty Gilpin, the Netflix horror The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Jenna Ortega, and the romantic comedy Holidate with Emma Roberts and Kristin Chenoweth. Bachelor will bring his real-life sprinting background while attending Florida State University, and that of his athlete father in Jamaica, to the role. 'Carl Lewis was a hero of mine — not just because of his dominance, but because he excelled in multiple events, just like I did. The rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis is one of the most iconic in sports history. To be a part of bringing that story to life is an incredible honor and a full-circle moment for me,' he said in a statement. The six-parter, set to air on Paramount+ and GameTV in Canada in 2026, has also added Kids in the Hall alum Mark McKinney, Karen Robinson, Ennis Esmer, Kristian Bruun, Malaika Hennie Hamadi, Ryan Belleville, Darryl Hinds, Lisa Horner, Emma Hunter, Suresh John, Jonathan Langdon, Gita Miller, Andrew Phung and Dewshane Williams to the ensemble cast. The Canadian miniseries is produced by New Metric Media and Bay Mills Studios. A synopsis from the producers reads: 'Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is Canadian sprinter Johnson's definitely-not-biased account of the doping controversy that rocked the 1988 Olympics when he tested positive for banned steroid use, going from hero to zero in 9.79 seconds in what some called 'The Dirtiest Race in History'. The series takes a revealing and satirical look at the events surrounding the legendary race and the scandal behind the scandal.' The series, which has the participation of Ben Johnson, is created by Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office, Shelved, Run the Burbs), who serves as showrunner. He also shares executive producer credits with Mark Montefiore, R.T. Thorne, Anderson and Stephan James. Lana Maclin will produce and Max Wolfond is a supervising producer. Cory Bowles and Thorne will direct. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 'The Studio': 30 Famous Faces Who Play (a Version of) Themselves in the Hollywood-Based Series 22 of the Most Shocking Character Deaths in Television History A 'Star Wars' Timeline: All the Movies and TV Shows in the Franchise
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
GAMETV/Paramount+ in Canada miniseries Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story taps Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor, Mark McKinney (Superstore), Karen Robinson (Schitt's Creek) and Ennis Esmer (Blindspot) to join cast
Social media star Bachelor takes on the role of famed U.S. sprinter Carl Lewis, with Kids in the Hall's McKinney guest starring alongside a cavalcade of Canadiancomedy talent in the New Metric Media six-episode series, currently in productionin association with Bay Mills Studios TORONTO, July 9, 2025 /CNW/ -- Award-winning comedy entertainment studio and 360-degree brand marketing leader New Metric Media, in association with Bay Mills Studios, is pleased to welcome a supporting cast of top-notch comedic acting talent to upcoming satirical miniseries Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story, set to debut on Anthem Sports & Entertainment's GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada in 2026. Social media star and actor Andrew Bachelor, better known as King Bach, who has amassed an ever-growing following of more than 70 million across various social media platforms, is taking on the role of famed U.S. sprinter Carl Lewis, opposite the previously announced series star Shamier Anderson, who plays Ben Johnson. Most recently, Bachelor has also starred in Netflix comedy Coffee and Kareem, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Ed Helms and Betty Gilpin, Netflix horror The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Jenna Ortega and Netflix romcom Holidate with Emma Roberts and Kristin Chenoweth. "As someone who grew up surrounded by the sport of track and field, it's truly in my blood. My father was a sprinter in Jamaica, and he passed down to me not just his speed, but his passion and deep understanding of the sport. I had the honor of running track for Florida State University, where we won nationals three years in a row. Carl Lewis was a hero of mine – not just because of his dominance, but because he excelled in multiple events, just like I did," said Andrew Bachelor. "The rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis is one of the most iconic in sports history. To be a part of bringing that story to life is an incredible honour and a full-circle moment for me." Mark McKinney, performer, writer and producer of some of the most groundbreaking television made in North America, including Kids in the Hall, will recur in the role of lawyer Walter F. Essanpee in Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story. Meanwhile, SAG and Canadian Screen Award winner Karen Robinson (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Schitt's Creek) is playing Ben's beloved mom, Gloria, with three-time Canadian Screen Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Ennis Esmer (New Metric Media's Children Ruin Everything, The Madness) portraying Ben's doctor Jamie Astaphan. Kristian Bruun (The Recruit, Orphan Black) joins the cast as Ben's coach Charlie Francis and Malaika Hennie Hamadi (New Metric Media's Bria Mack Gets A Life) as intern Khara. Rounding out the supporting cast is a cavalcade of Canadian comedy talent including Ryan Belleville (Workin' Moms), Darryl Hinds (Second City), Lisa Horner (Kim's Convenience), Emma Hunter (Mr. D, Letterkenny), Suresh John (Mr. D, Last Frontier), Jonathan Langdon (M. Knight Shyamalan's Trap), Gita Miller (Workin' Moms), Andrew Phung (Kim's Convenience, Run the Burbs) and Dewshane Williams (Hello Tomorrow). The miniseries has also lined up several fun cameos, including appearances by WWE star Chelsea Green and Canadian NASCAR driver Amber Balcaen. Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is Canadian sprinter Johnson's definitely-not-biased account of the doping controversy that rocked the 1988 Olympics when he tested positive for banned steroid use, going from hero to zero in 9.79 seconds in what some called "The Dirtiest Race in History". The series takes a revealing and satirical look at the events surrounding the legendary race and the scandal behind the scandal. New Metric Media identified and put the project together, entering development on the series with Paramount+ in Canada in 2023. The series is created by BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated writer Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office, Shelved, Run the Burbs), who serves as showrunner and Executive Producer. New Metric Media CEO Mark Montefiore (Letterkenny, Shoresy, Children Ruin Everything) and director R.T. Thorne will also executive produce, alongside Anderson and Stephan James for Bay Mills Studio. Lana Maclin and Max Wolfond serve as Producer and Supervising Producer, respectively, for New Metric. Thorne (The Porter) and Cory Bowles (Trailer Park Boys) are set to direct. Set to debut on GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada simultaneously in early 2026, Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is being produced with participation from Ben Johnson and is inspired by extensive research conducted by Canadian author and journalist, Mary Ormsby. New Metric Media is distributing the miniseries internationally. ABOUT NEW METRIC MEDIA Based in Toronto, New Metric Media is an award-winning independent entertainment studio specializing in building comedy brands across TV production, live entertainment, distribution, merchandising and licensing. Recipient of Playback's 2022 Production Company of the Year award and the Banff World Media Festival's 2018 Innovative Producer Award, the company's slate of programming includes the hit Crave/Hulu original comedy Letterkenny, the Crave/Hulu Letterkenny spinoff series Shoresy, the CTV/CW/Roku half-hour comedy Children Ruin Everything and half-hour Crave comedy series Bria Mack Gets a Life. New Metric's Letterkenny, Bria Mack Gets A Life and Children Ruin Everything have each been named Best Comedy Series by the Canadian Screen Awards in recent years. New Metric Media is recognized as a leader in 360-degree brand marketing and its success with Letterkenny and Shoresy off-screen extensions, including beer, collectible merchandise, the sold-out Letterkenny Live stage show and the Shoresy Fall Classic hockey event, set to land in five NHL arenas later this year. ABOUT BAY MILLS STUDIOSBay Mills is a cutting-edge production company founded by actors, producers, and brothers, Shamier Anderson and Golden Globe Nominee Stephan James. Bay Mills is focused on showcasing an eclectic and inclusive lineup of diverse stories from feature films, scripted and unscripted TV, short-form, digital media, and a panoply of other platform-agnostic content. Shamier and Stephan combine their creative expertise and ability to engage global audiences to create groundbreaking content that pushes the boundaries, all while being rooted in entertainment. ABOUT GAMETV GameTV is a Canadian channel specializing in game-related programming such as game shows, competition-based shows, reality series and movies. The channel is available in over 6+ million homes in digital basic on IPTV, cable and satellite systems throughout the territory. GameTV is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., a leading global sports media company. Follow GameTV on @GameTVCanada on X and Instagram @gametvnetwork. ABOUT ANTHEM SPORTS &ENTERTAINMENT Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company that owns and operates sports and entertainment brands that super-serve passionate communities. Anthem's Entertainment Group includes AXS TV, the ultimate destination for music; HDNET MOVIES and Hollywood Suite, which each boast expansive film libraries packed with iconic classics and modern favorites; and GameTV, featuring popular game shows and competition-based series. Anthem's Sports Group owns iconic wrestling promotion TNA Wrestling; the all-female MMA organization Invicta Fighting Championships; Fight Network, the world's premier combat sports channel; and the North American sports hub Game+. For more information, visit ABOUT PARAMOUNT+Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel™, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service is currently live in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Paramount+ (Canada) View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Cision Canada
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
GAMETV/Paramount+ in Canada miniseries Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story taps Andrew "King Bach" Bachelor, Mark McKinney (Superstore), Karen Robinson (Schitt's Creek) and Ennis Esmer (Blindspot) to join cast
Social media star and actor Andrew Bachelor, better known as King Bach, who has amassed an ever-growing following of more than 70 million across various social media platforms, is taking on the role of famed U.S. sprinter Carl Lewis, opposite the previously announced series star Shamier Anderson, who plays Ben Johnson. Most recently, Bachelor has also starred in Netflix comedy Coffee and Kareem, alongside Taraji P. Henson, Ed Helms and Betty Gilpin, Netflix horror The Babysitter: Killer Queen with Jenna Ortega and Netflix romcom Holidate with Emma Roberts and Kristin Chenoweth. "As someone who grew up surrounded by the sport of track and field, it's truly in my blood. My father was a sprinter in Jamaica, and he passed down to me not just his speed, but his passion and deep understanding of the sport. I had the honor of running track for Florida State University, where we won nationals three years in a row. Carl Lewis was a hero of mine – not just because of his dominance, but because he excelled in multiple events, just like I did," said Andrew Bachelor. "The rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis is one of the most iconic in sports history. To be a part of bringing that story to life is an incredible honour and a full-circle moment for me." Mark McKinney, performer, writer and producer of some of the most groundbreaking television made in North America, including Kids in the Hall, will recur in the role of lawyer Walter F. Essanpee in Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story. Meanwhile, SAG and Canadian Screen Award winner Karen Robinson (Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent, Schitt's Creek) is playing Ben's beloved mom, Gloria, with three-time Canadian Screen Award Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Ennis Esmer (New Metric Media's Children Ruin Everything, The Madness) portraying Ben's doctor Jamie Astaphan. Kristian Bruun (The Recruit, Orphan Black) joins the cast as Ben's coach Charlie Francis and Malaika Hennie Hamadi (New Metric Media's Bria Mack Gets A Life) as intern Khara. Rounding out the supporting cast is a cavalcade of Canadian comedy talent including Ryan Belleville (Workin' Moms), Darryl Hinds (Second City), Lisa Horner (Kim's Convenience), Emma Hunter (Mr. D, Letterkenny), Suresh John (Mr. D, Last Frontier), Jonathan Langdon (M. Knight Shyamalan's Trap), Gita Miller (Workin' Moms), Andrew Phung (Kim's Convenience, Run the Burbs) and Dewshane Williams (Hello Tomorrow). The miniseries has also lined up several fun cameos, including appearances by WWE star Chelsea Green and Canadian NASCAR driver Amber Balcaen. Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is Canadian sprinter Johnson's definitely-not-biased account of the doping controversy that rocked the 1988 Olympics when he tested positive for banned steroid use, going from hero to zero in 9.79 seconds in what some called "The Dirtiest Race in History". The series takes a revealing and satirical look at the events surrounding the legendary race and the scandal behind the scandal. New Metric Media identified and put the project together, entering development on the series with Paramount+ in Canada in 2023. The series is created by BAFTA-winning and Emmy-nominated writer Anthony Q. Farrell (The Office, Shelved, Run the Burbs), who serves as showrunner and Executive Producer. New Metric Media CEO Mark Montefiore (Letterkenny, Shoresy, Children Ruin Everything) and director R.T. Thorne will also executive produce, alongside Anderson and Stephan James for Bay Mills Studio. Lana Maclin and Max Wolfond serve as Producer and Supervising Producer, respectively, for New Metric. Thorne (The Porter) and Cory Bowles (Trailer Park Boys) are set to direct. Set to debut on GameTV and Paramount+ in Canada simultaneously in early 2026, Hate the Player: The Ben Johnson Story is being produced with participation from Ben Johnson and is inspired by extensive research conducted by Canadian author and journalist, Mary Ormsby. New Metric Media is distributing the miniseries internationally. ABOUT NEW METRIC MEDIA Based in Toronto, New Metric Media is an award-winning independent entertainment studio specializing in building comedy brands across TV production, live entertainment, distribution, merchandising and licensing. Recipient of Playback's 2022 Production Company of the Year award and the Banff World Media Festival's 2018 Innovative Producer Award, the company's slate of programming includes the hit Crave/Hulu original comedy Letterkenny, the Crave/Hulu Letterkenny spinoff series Shoresy, the CTV/CW/Roku half-hour comedy Children Ruin Everything and half-hour Crave comedy series Bria Mack Gets a Life. New Metric's Letterkenny, Bria Mack Gets A Life and Children Ruin Everything have each been named Best Comedy Series by the Canadian Screen Awards in recent years. New Metric Media is recognized as a leader in 360-degree brand marketing and its success with Letterkenny and Shoresy off-screen extensions, including beer, collectible merchandise, the sold-out Letterkenny Live stage show and the Shoresy Fall Classic hockey event, set to land in five NHL arenas later this year. ABOUT BAY MILLS STUDIOS Bay Mills is a cutting-edge production company founded by actors, producers, and brothers, Shamier Anderson and Golden Globe Nominee Stephan James. Bay Mills is focused on showcasing an eclectic and inclusive lineup of diverse stories from feature films, scripted and unscripted TV, short-form, digital media, and a panoply of other platform-agnostic content. Shamier and Stephan combine their creative expertise and ability to engage global audiences to create groundbreaking content that pushes the boundaries, all while being rooted in entertainment. ABOUT GAMETV GameTV is a Canadian channel specializing in game-related programming such as game shows, competition-based shows, reality series and movies. The channel is available in over 6+ million homes in digital basic on IPTV, cable and satellite systems throughout the territory. GameTV is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment Corp., a leading global sports media company. Follow GameTV on @GameTVCanada on X and Instagram @gametvnetwork. ABOUT ANTHEM SPORTS &ENTERTAINMENT INC. Anthem Sports & Entertainment Inc. is a global multi-platform media company that owns and operates sports and entertainment brands that super-serve passionate communities. Anthem's Entertainment Group includes AXS TV, the ultimate destination for music; HDNET MOVIES and Hollywood Suite, which each boast expansive film libraries packed with iconic classics and modern favorites; and GameTV, featuring popular game shows and competition-based series. Anthem's Sports Group owns iconic wrestling promotion TNA Wrestling; the all-female MMA organization Invicta Fighting Championships; Fight Network, the world's premier combat sports channel; and the North American sports hub Game+. For more information, visit ABOUT PARAMOUNT+ Paramount+ is a global digital subscription video streaming service from Paramount that features a mountain of premium entertainment for audiences of all ages. Internationally, the streaming service features an expansive library of original series, hit shows and popular movies across every genre from world-renowned brands and production studios, including SHOWTIME®, BET, CBS, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures and the Smithsonian Channel™, in addition to a robust offering of premier local content. The service is currently live in Australia, Austria, Canada, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latin America, Switzerland, the U.K. and the U.S.
CBC
26-06-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon falls short in attempt to break 4-minute mile
Three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon has failed in her bid to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes. Kipyegon, the Olympic 1,500-metre gold medallist from Kenya, ran in 4 minutes, 06.42 seconds at Stade Charlety in Paris on Thursday. Her time was better than her world record of 4:07.64 but won't be recognized by the international federation because the Nike-sponsored event dubbed " Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile." was unofficial. The 31-year-old Kipyegon looked exhausted as she reached the finish and fell on her back as she was surrounded by photographers. Her attempt took place on a balmy summer's evening with a temperature of 25 C and limited wind, in front of an audience of a few thousand people. THE BUZZER Can a woman run a 4-minute mile? Faith Kipyegon is about to try She used a team of 13 elite pace setters made of 11 men and two women who were positioned in front and behind her to reduce drag. But Kipyegon appeared to struggle midway through the race and failed in her attempt to shave at least 7.65 seconds off her world record. To achieve the feat, Kipyegon would have needed to run each of her four laps an average of about two seconds faster. Will Faith Kipyegon become 1st woman to break 4-minute barrier in the mile? 3 days ago Duration 3:49 Chris Chavez explains why Faith Kipyegon could be the 1st woman to run sub-4 in the mile, and how it could impact her global legacy. Among the guests in Paris were Carl Lewis and Kipyegon's fellow Kenyan runner, longtime friend and training partner Eliud Kipchoge. It was more than 71 years ago when British runner Roger Bannister became the first man to eclipse four minutes in 3:59.4. Kipyegon set the women's mile world record nearly two years ago during a Diamond League meet in Monaco. She won her third straight 1,500 Olympic title in Paris last August. A month before that, she broke her own 1,500 record on the same track where she ran on Thursday.
