Faith Kipyegon Speaks After Missing Sub 4 Minute Mark By Seconds

Faith Kipyegon faced a heartbreaking outcome as she came up just short in her historic bid to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes.

The three-time Olympic gold medalist needed to cut a significant 7.65 seconds from her current world record of 4:07.64, which she set nearly two years ago at a Diamond League event in Monaco.

In a high-profile event in Paris, the 31-year-old came remarkably close to breaking the four-minute mile barrier, finishing with an impressive time of 4:06.42, six seconds shy of the mark.

Although she fell short of her goal, Kipyegon managed to trim over a second off her previous record, solidifying her status as the fastest woman to ever run the mile.

“Chasing history, creating legacy. Still the fastest mile run by a woman in history. Faith Kipyegon gives everything in her quest to break the 4-minute mile and stops the clock at 4:06.42. Thank you, Faith, for making us dream. Maybe not today, but soon,” World Athletics celebrated her.

"I feel good, I've tried. I have proven what's possible. It's only a matter of time, and I know one day a woman will run under 4 minutes. If it is not me, it will be someone else," she said.

"Even without these conditions, I will still go for it. I want to thank everyone who came to cheer me on. This was really special, and I am so grateful I have proved to the world that everything is possible."

She added, "Even without these conditions, I will still go for it. I want to thank everyone who came to cheer me on. This was really special, and I am so grateful I have proved to the world that everything is possible."

Surrounded by 15 pacemakers, Kipyegon got off to a strong start, completing the first lap in 61.55 seconds. As the race progressed, the three-time 1500m world champion remained well ahead of her previous world record pace, with the tracking lights still green as she approached the final stretch.

Displaying immense grit and determination, Kipyegon gave everything in the final lap, but ultimately fell short of the sub-four-minute mark, finishing about six seconds over the target.

Though she showed a hint of disappointment immediately after crossing the finish line, Kipyegon was quickly comforted by fellow running icon Eliud Kipchoge and her support team. Moments later, her initial frustration gave way to joy as she embraced the significance of her performance.

On Thursday, June 26, 2025, Faith Kipyegon set out to make history by attempting to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes at Stade Charléty in Paris, aiming to push the boundaries of women’s middle-distance running.

The event, dubbed Nike’s ‘Breaking4’ project, was inspired by the brand’s earlier Breaking2 initiative from 2017. Backed by Nike, the challenge sought to support Kipyegon in breaking the long-standing sub-4-minute mile barrier—a feat that has remained untouched by any woman since British athlete Roger Bannister first broke it for men in 1954.

The race was streamed live worldwide across Nike’s YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Amazon Prime Video platforms, drawing a global audience. Her run was also part of a larger movement under the newly established women-only track and field league, ATHLOS.

With sponsorship from Nike, ATHLOS offered a $100,000 (Ksh13 million) reward for breaking the sub-4 barrier, a target set with Kipyegon specifically in mind. She had already competed in the league's debut event in New York the previous year, where she clocked 4:04.79 and earned Ksh7.8 million for her performance.