Faith Kipyegon failed to break the 4-minute mile, but inspired

On June 26th, 2025, in Paris, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon just ran the fastest mile time ever by a female runner in the world: 4:06.42. She missed the four-minute barrier by slightly over six seconds.

“I was not able to achieve it today, but I know now that it is possible,” Kipyegon said after the race. Although she didn’t say what she thought was why she couldn’t achieve the mark, Kipyegon appeared convinced that she, or any other woman, should be able to go under the 4-minute barrier any time soon.

In her attempt to make history, Kipyegon was paced by twelve pace setters, comprising ten men and two women. 

Today was not the day. But, just like it happened with the men’s attempt to break the 2-hour barrier for the marathon, the first attempt led to better preparations for the record to be broken in the next attempt. 

Other brands may now be interested in organising their own races, and female runners will keep that mark in mind whenever they prepare to run a mile race. As long as the barrier remains, it will remain an exciting goal and a hot debate among running fans.

Kipyegon aimed to inspire the next generation of athletes to see freedom in pushing societal and personal limits in new ways. This includes Kipyegon’s daughter, her greatest inspiration, who was awaiting her at the finish line, representing the complementary duality of her life as an elite athlete and a mother.

Roger Bannister became the first person to break the 4-minute mark for the mile on May 6, 1954, at a track in Oxford, England, with a time of 3:59.4. He was later knighted for his feat.

Seventy-one years later, on June 26, 2025, it was women’s turn to try the feat, too. 

And who else would be the ideal woman to try this than Faith Kipyegon, the three-time Olympic Champion and 1500m and mile world record holder?

It wouldn’t be an easy feat, and everything, from the pacing strategy to the weather to the running kits and the well-being of Kipyegon, was to be perfect. Two seconds on each of the four laps is what Kipyegon needed to subtract to beat the current world record of 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds that she set in Monaco nearly two years ago.

“I dare to try!” Kipyegon had said in an introductory video ahead of the highly anticipated race against the clock at the Stade Sébastien Charléty.

The setting at the Stadium in Paris was great. The purple track blended well with the purple lights. “Breaking 4” and Nike’s logo were inscribed in red at the centre of the field and at different points across the stadium. Although not fully packed, the crowds were charged and expectant, with some waving Kenyan flags.

Her training mate, Eliud Kipchoge, who also attempted a similar mission to break the 2-hour barrier for the marathon, was there and said he was tense because he knew how hard it was to accomplish the task ahead.

“She appeared a bit nervous when we went for a shake-out run this morning, but nervousness at times is good for a good performance,” Patrick Sang, Kipyegon’s coach, said in a pre-race interview. “ Faith has done much in the 1500m and the mile before, so I believe she can achieve this,” added the coach.

In Kenya, millions had their eyes glued to the screen to watch their favourite runner make history. There were different watch parties in some of the biggest clubs in Eldoret, the city of champions, where the locals had turned out in large numbers to watch the event.

When the moment finally approached, the pacesetters emerged and entered the stadium clad in purple tops and black shorts. Then, Kipyegon came out last, wearing a black running suit, specially designed to handle the herculean task of making history.

“Advanced innovation at Nike is driven by a deep commitment to partnering with athletes like Faith, turning dreams into dares and dares into destiny,” John Hoke, Nike’s Chief Innovation Officer, had been quoted in a pre-race press release. “This courageous attempt at breaking a monumental boundary embodies the alchemy of art, science and athlete, resetting ambitions and amplifying impact. Together with athletes, we approach problems systemically, creatively and parametrically — no problem too large, no detail too small. As always, we stand in awe of helping athletes achieve greatness.”

It didn’t take long for the race to start. Kipyegon sprinted lightly for about 100m, then walked towards the start line with the pacemakers around her, giving her room in the inside lane as they stayed on the outer lanes. 

As soon as the gun went off, Kipyegon stayed parallel to the green wave lights inside the track and Grant Fisher to the outer lane. She appeared to be moving at the right rhythm to achieve the mark, but struggled in the last lap, losing a few seconds as she helplessly watched the clock strike 4 minutes with a few steps to the finish line.

Although she ran a second faster than her own world record of 4:07.64, the time will not be recognised for world record purposes because of the race setting and the fact that male pacemakers paced it. 

Nonetheless, Kipyegon was happy with her performance.

“Even if not in a special race like this, I’ll still go for it, even in a normal Diamond League race,” Faith said after the race.