No woman has ever run a mile under four minutes. Kipyegon, who already holds the world record for the mile at 4:07.64, is now targeting this elusive milestone.
Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon is on the brink of making history once again as she prepares to take on one of athletics’ toughest challenges — the sub-four-minute Mile. The Kenyan superstar will line up Thursday evening at Charlety Stadium in Paris, chasing not just a rare milestone, but also a Sh13 million ($100,000) reward attached to the feat.
The race, branded ‘Breaking4’, goes beyond competition. It’s a bold attempt to shatter limits in women’s middle-distance running. Backed by Nike and the newly launched ATHLOS women-only track league, the initiative has captured global attention. ATHLOS, founded by tech entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian, has put up the seven-figure incentive to fuel the quest.
Kipyegon, 31, currently holds the women’s Mile world record, clocking 4:07.64 at the Monaco Diamond League in 2023. Breaking the four-minute barrier would require her to cut down a remarkable 7.65 seconds — a challenge so steep that no female athlete has ever accomplished it.
Still, for Kipyegon, it’s about more than money or medals.
“If I can break the record, then I will have cemented my legacy. It will give hope to women that if we dream big, anything is possible,” she told reporters this week.
Her commitment is clear. This is a woman who has already won three Olympic golds, set world records in the 1,500m and 5,000m, and remains unbeaten in championship races since 2019. Now, she wants to stretch her legacy even further.
Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile. Stade Charléty, Paris. June 26th. pic.twitter.com/xc5GqnFcoM
— Nike (@Nike) June 25, 2025
Kipyegon’s mental preparation is just as intense as her physical conditioning. Speaking ahead of the race, she said the biggest challenge is strategy — not speed.
“You have to think of it,” she explained. “You have to think about how to cross the 800m mark. How to cross the 1200m mark. It’s a repetition of ‘I have to be myself’ and just think of how I will strategise to shave off those seven seconds.”
To support her mission, Nike has provided a custom-made “Fly Suit”, designed to reduce air resistance, and racing spikes engineered from her trusted Zoom Victory 2s. Every detail has been meticulously prepared — from gear to pacing — to give her the edge.
The venue is symbolic. Paris is where Kipyegon clocked 3:49.04 to break the 1,500m world record last year. It’s also where she claimed her third Olympic gold medal in the same event — finishing in 3:51.29 and breaking the Olympic record in the process.
Last year, Kipyegon also set a world record in the 5,000m at 14:05.20, before Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay lowered the mark just weeks later. Despite that, Kipyegon remains the only woman to have ever held both the 1,500m and 5,000m world records in the same season.
Her attempt at a sub-four Mile isn’t just a personal milestone — it’s a cultural moment. Support has poured in from all corners of the athletics world, including her Kenyan teammates and global stars.
Marathon great Eliud Kipchoge, world champions Mary Moraa, Hellen Obiri, Beatrice Chebet, and steeplechase sensation Faith Cherotich have all voiced their support online.
“Kipyegon has accomplished nearly everything in athletics. The only frontier that now remains is breaking barriers, and she continues to pursue them with the same passion and excellence that has defined her remarkable career,” wrote Cherotich.
Obiri, who recently won the Boston Marathon, called the attempt “trailblazing,” while Chebet wrote, “Thanks for the courage and for inspiring all women to dare to dream.”
Australian star Jessica Hull, who won silver behind Kipyegon in the 1,500m at the Olympics, called the sub-four target a “game-changer” for the sport. “It forces us all to think bigger,” she said in a recent interview. “You don’t know what’s possible until you try.”
Kipyegon’s last appearance in an ATHLOS event saw her win in 4:04.79 in New York, earning Sh7.8 million for that performance. This time, the stakes — and the speed — are even higher.
One mission. One Faith Kipyegon
The 4-minute mile. No woman has ever broken it.
Until now?
Stade Charléty, Paris
26 June | 19:15 CEST#Breaking4 pic.twitter.com/V01s0fxXUr— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) June 25, 2025
For ATHLOS and Nike, it’s about more than a race. It’s about breaking barriers, pushing limits, and redefining what female athletes can do on the track. Ohanian, speaking on social media, declared his confidence in Kipyegon.
“We’ve got $100K on Kipyegon to break the world record! And you better believe we’ll wire it swiftly, just like we did for our ATHLOS athletes last year,” he posted.
As the clock ticks toward race time, anticipation is building. Kipyegon’s pursuit of the sub-four Minute Mile is not just about numbers — it’s a statement of power, purpose, and belief.
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