In a highly anticipated event dubbed “Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile,” Kenyan middle-distance star Faith Kipyegon aimed to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes at Stade SĂ©bastien CharlĂ©ty in Paris. Despite a valiant effort, the 31-year-old three-time Olympic 1,500-meter champion fell short of the mythical barrier, finishing with a time of 4:06.42. While she missed the sub-4-minute mark, Kipyegon shattered her own world record of 4:07.64, set in 2023 at the Monaco Diamond League, by over a second, cementing her status as the fastest female miler in history.
The Nike-sponsored exhibition drew global attention, with fans and analysts eager to see if Kipyegon could achieve what no woman has done before. The sub-4-minute mile, first broken by Roger Bannister in 1954 with a time of 3:59.4, has long been a benchmark in track and field, with over 2,000 men having accomplished the feat since. For Kipyegon, the challenge required shaving approximately 7.65 seconds off her previous world record, equivalent to gaining nearly two seconds per 400-meter lap.
Kipyegon, supported by a team of pacers to shield her from wind resistance and wearing cutting-edge Nike gearâincluding a bespoke aerodynamic tracksuit, a 3D-printed sports bra, and ultralight Victory Elite FK spikesâran a tactically sound race. The event, streamed live on Amazon Prime and Nikeâs YouTube channel, showcased her remarkable speed and endurance, but the 4-minute barrier proved just out of reach. Her time of 4:06.42, while not officially recognized as a world record due to the exhibition nature of the event, marked a significant improvement and sparked optimism for future attempts.
âI want this attempt to say to women, âYou can dream and make your dreams valid,ââ Kipyegon said before the race. Post-race, she remained undeterred, stating, âIâve proven itâs possible. It will come our way. One day, one time, a woman will run under 4. I will still go for it.â Her words resonated with fans, who celebrated her courage and performance on social media, with one user noting, âThat was a good trial Faith Kipyegon. We try again next time. Itâs good to dare and keep dreaming!â
Experts had questioned whether a sub-4-minute mile was physiologically possible for a woman, with a recent study suggesting that no female athlete currently possesses the exact endurance parameters required. However, Kipyegonâs performance, aided by Nikeâs advanced technology and a carefully orchestrated pacing strategy, demonstrated that the barrier is closer than ever. Her training at 8,000 feet in Kenya, which boosts red blood cell production, and the use of innovations like a lightweight tracksuit with âaeronodesâ to reduce drag, were critical in her record-breaking effort.
While Kipyegonâs time of 4:06.42 is the fastest mile ever run by a woman, the exhibition status means it wonât enter the official record books. Still, her performance has inspired a new wave of optimism in the track and field community. As one observer on X remarked, âNothing went wrong with Faith. She ran as best as she could and has a new PR. It was the entire narrative that was wrong.â The crowd at Stade CharlĂ©ty showed their appreciation as Kipyegon, draped in the Kenyan flag, took a lap of honor, with smiles, bells, and cheers echoing through the stadium.
Kipyegonâs attempt adds to her storied career, which includes three Olympic gold medals in the 1,500 meters, a silver in the 5,000 meters at the 2024 Paris Olympics, and world records in both the 1,500 meters (3:49.04) and the mile. Her 4:06.42 mile translates to a pace just shy of the sub-4-minute threshold, reinforcing her belief that the barrier will eventually fall.