In Summary:
- Kenyan champion Faith Kipyegon will try to become the first woman to run an unofficial sub-four-minute mile on June 26, 2025, in Paris.
- Kipyegon is a three-time Olympic and multiple world champion, holding current world records in the 1500m and mile.
- This “Breaking4” project uses advanced tech and pacing to help her achieve this incredible feat, inspiring women in sports globally.
Kenyan athletics sensation Faith Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic and multiple world champion, is poised to make history tomorrow, Thursday, June 26, 2025, by attempting to run the first unofficial sub-four-minute mile. This monumental challenge, part of Nike’s “Breaking4” project, will take place at Stade Charlety in Paris, France, a track where Kipyegon previously set her world records in the 1,500m and 5,000m.
Kipyegon’s Unprecedented Journey and Dominance
Faith Kipyegon, 31, has established herself as one of the most dominant middle-distance runners of her generation.
Hailing from Nakuru, Kenya, her career spans over a decade, marked by consistent excellence and groundbreaking achievements.
She clinched the Olympic 1,500m title at the 2016, 2020, and 2024 Games, a feat unmatched in the event’s history.
Her world championship titles include the 1,500m in 2017, 2022, and 2023, where she also secured a gold in the 5,000m.
Kipyegon currently holds the world record for the 1,500m with a time of 3:49.04 and the mile with 4:07.64. Her 5,000m world record was recently broken by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.
Remarkably, Kipyegon demonstrated incredible resilience, returning to elite form after a 21-month break following the birth of her child in 2018.
Her “Breaking4” attempt, similar to Eliud Kipchoge’s unofficial sub-two-hour marathon, will utilize innovative apparel, 85-gram super-spikes, and strategically positioned pacers designed for optimal drafting benefits to help her shave off the more than seven seconds needed from her current mile record.
This endeavor, while unofficial for record purposes due to the specific conditions, aims to redefine the limits of women’s distance running.
The Historic Challenge: Breaking the Four-Minute Barrier
The sub-four-minute mile is an iconic benchmark in athletics.
While Britain’s Roger Bannister famously became the first man to break this barrier in 3:59.4 in May 1954, no woman has yet achieved the feat.
Kipyegon’s current mile world record of 4:07.64, set in Monaco in 2023, is the closest any woman has come, nearly five seconds faster than Sifan Hassan’s 2019 mark of 4:12.33.
To break four minutes, Kipyegon needs to run each of her four-plus laps approximately two seconds faster than her personal best.
The “Breaking4” project incorporates advanced technology and strategic pacing to assist Kipyegon.
The pacers’ computer-designed positions are crucial for maximizing drafting, reducing air resistance by an estimated 70% or more, a significant factor as running at a four-minute mile pace alone can consume 13% of a runner’s energy just pushing against the air.
This highly controlled environment, including potentially male pacers and cutting-edge gear, while not recognized for official world records, is a scientific attempt to push human boundaries.
The current men’s mile world record stands at 3:43.13, set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.
Inspiration and Legacy for Kenyan and African Athletics
Faith Kipyegon’s audacious attempt is more than a personal pursuit; it’s a profound source of inspiration for Kenya and the entire African continent.
Her “special relationship” with Stade Charlety, where she has already achieved multiple world records, fuels her confidence.
“I absolutely think there’s special energy at this track,” Kipyegon shared. “I have beautiful memories of Paris… And now we are going for this special one, and I think the track will bring good results.”
This high-profile event, which will be livestreamed globally, symbolizes the growing global recognition of African athletic talent.
It aims to empower and inspire future generations of female athletes, pushing them to “dream outside the box” and believe in the impossible, much like Diane Leather became the first woman to break five minutes in the mile in May 1954, just 23 days after Bannister broke four minutes.
Kipyegon’s quest to etch her name further into athletics history will undoubtedly motivate countless aspiring runners across Kenya and beyond, solidifying her legacy as a trailblazer in women’s sports.
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