On a warm summer night at Stade Charléty in Paris, Kenyan middle-distance star Faith Kipyegon came heartbreakingly close to rewriting athletics history as the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes. Despite falling short of the elusive barrier, Kipyegon delivered a spectacular performance, clocking 4:06.42 in front of an inspired crowd.
The race, billed as “Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile”, was an unofficial challenge event organized by sportswear giant Nike and featured an elite field of 13 pacemakers, including 11 men and two women, helping to create ideal conditions for the attempt. Though it won’t count in official record books, Kipyegon’s run bettered her own standing world record of 4:07.64, set in Monaco in 2023.
“It was not all about running a tactical race or going for the world record,” Kipyegon said afterward. “It was a special race whereby you just have to give everything. So I gave everything – and I think the WaveLights gave everything too!”
Perfectly choreographed pacers and a calm 25°C Parisian evening created an electric atmosphere for the challenge. Thousands of fans lined the stands at the iconic stadium, cheering loudly as Kipyegon surged lap after lap behind the illuminated WaveLight pacing system.
Though she ultimately missed the four-minute milestone by just over six seconds, the double Olympic gold medalist’s effort was lauded globally as a courageous and thrilling demonstration of the sport’s evolving potential.
At 30, Kipyegon remains the undisputed queen of the mile, with growing speculation about when, not if, the sub-four-minute barrier will fall.
“This was just the beginning,” one Nike official said. “Faith is redefining what’s possible.”
With the Paris 2024 Olympic Games still fresh in the memory and eyes now turning toward the 2025 World Championships, the night reminded fans why Kipyegon remains one of the most compelling figures in world athletics — not just for her medals, but for her fearless pursuit of greatness.
Senior Reporter at AMN News Agency, known for his insightful journalism and in-depth coverage of current events.
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