Faith Kipyegon Is Attempting to Become the First Woman to Run a Mile in Under Four Minutes

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Faith Kipyegon, an athlete for Nike, aims to make history by being the first female runner to complete a mile in less than 4 minutes under the initiative named Breaking4.

The current record-holder for the women’s mile in Kenya is a middle-distance runner who has clocked a time of 4 minutes and 7.64 seconds back in 2023, making her the fastest woman in this event. Her next goal is to be the first female athlete to run a mile under four minutes, a feat that was achieved by Roger Bannister in 1954. To accomplish this, she must reduce her lap times by approximately two seconds on each of the four laps. With just two months left for training, she’s gearing up for an official timed run scheduled at the Stade Charléty in Paris on June 26th.

Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic gold medalist and multiple World Championship title holder, mused, “Why stop here? Let’s think beyond the usual limits!” She continued, “If you have faith in yourself and your team has faith in you, you can make it happen.

She emphasized, “My intention here is to encourage women, ‘Go ahead and dare to dream, and let those dreams matter.’ This path forward for women involves challenging limits and aiming high.

Nike is collaborating closely with Faith Kipyegon to optimize her shoes, clothing, aerodynamics, physiology, and mental well-being for her upcoming race. Elliott Hill, president and CEO of NIKE, commented, “Faith’s exceptional talent embodies the spirit we admire, and her ambitious objective perfectly aligns with our values.” The Breaking4 project represents a daring aspiration that we are fully committed to realizing – inspiring both elite and ordinary athletes to believe in the limitless potential of human achievement.

As a fan, I’d rephrase John Hoke’s statement like this: “I’m truly inspired by this bold effort to shatter a significant barrier. It’s a stunning blend of art, science, and athleticism that pushes the boundaries and heightens influence. Working alongside athletes, we tackle challenges holistically, innovatively, and meticulously – no challenge is too big, no detail is insignificant. Once again, it’s a privilege to be part of empowering athletes to reach their peak potential.

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2025-04-25 22:26