Faith Kipyegon Attempts Women's Running History

Faith Kipyegon fell short of her goal to become the first woman to run the mile in under four minutes, but still made history with a time of 4:06.42 on Thursday.

What happened?

Faith Kipyegon's attempt at Paris' Stade Sébastien Charléty was a highly anticipated event, with a team of over 10 pacers, including Olympian Grant Fisher, who trains in Utah.

Kipyegon spent most of the race running alongside Fisher, and her time will not count as an official world record due to the rotating cast of pacers and the footwear not being approved by World Athletics.

Why it matters for Faith Kipyegon

Faith Kipyegon still bested her previous world record time of 4:07.64, which she set in 2023 in Monaco, according to World Athletics.

This attempt was a partnership with Nike, which the company marketed as Breaking4, and was livestreamed on its YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok accounts.

What comes next?

Following her sub-four attempt, Faith Kipyegon was optimistic, saying it is only a matter of time until the feat is accomplished, and that she believes someone will eventually break the four-minute barrier.

BYU coach Diljeet Taylor, who is also a Nike coach, was part of the broadcast team for the event and said that everyone was inspired by Kipyegon's performance.

Faith Kipyegon's attempt was watched by fans around the world, and the event was also documented in a series titled "Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile", with the first episode released on Prime Video.

The reaction on social media was largely positive, with many users expressing their admiration for Kipyegon's determination and skill, and hoping that she will eventually achieve her goal.

Faith Kipyegon's time of 4:06.42 is a new personal best, and she will continue to train and compete in the hopes of breaking the four-minute barrier in the future.