In an electrifying evening in Paris, Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon came agonizingly close to making athletics history, narrowly missing her bid to become the first woman to complete a mile in under four minutes.
The 31-year-old, who already holds three Olympic gold medals, delivered a sensational performance, clocking 4:06.42 an improvement of over a second on her previous world record of 4:07.64, which she set during a 2023 Diamond League race in Monaco.
To achieve the groundbreaking feat, Kipyegon needed to slash a staggering 7.65 seconds from her own benchmark. With the support of 15 dedicated pacemakers, she began the race at a blistering pace, completing the first lap in 61.55 seconds and staying ahead of the record pace for most of the race.
At the bell for the final lap, Kipyegon was still on course, hitting the 3:01.84 mark. As the race entered its climax, the wind and fatigue began to take their toll. Despite the assistance of a reduced group of pacemakers in the final stretch, she narrowly missed her ambitious target.
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Though visibly emotional at the finish line, the moment soon turned into one of triumph. Kipyegon was warmly embraced by her support team and legendary marathoner Eliud Kipchoge, who recognized the magnitude of her achievement.
Speaking after the race, Kipyegon remained upbeat and resilient, pledging to continue her pursuit of the elusive milestone.
“I feel good; I’ve tried. I’ve proven what’s possible. It’s only a matter of time. One day, a woman will break the 4-minute mile if not me, then someone else,” she stated.
“Even without ideal conditions, I will still go for it. I’m thankful to everyone who came to support me. This was truly special, and I’m proud to show the world that anything is possible.”
Kipyegon’s performance has reaffirmed her status as the fastest woman in history over the mile distance and inspired millions around the world. The dream of a sub-4-minute women’s mile is no longer a distant hope it now feels like a near certainty.
