Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon came close to making history on Thursday evening in Paris, but ultimately fell short in her attempt to become the first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile. Competing at Stade Charléty under ideal weather conditions, the Kenyan middle-distance icon recorded a time of 4 minutes and 6.42 seconds—faster than her own previous world best but still outside the four-minute barrier.
Kipyegon, aided by Wavelight technology and supported by a team of 13 pacemakers—including 11 men and two women—set off with determination over the 1.6-kilometre course. Her final time surpassed her previous world record of 4:07.64, set in Monaco in 2023. However, due to the use of male pacemakers, her performance cannot be officially recognized as a new world record.
After crossing the finish line, the 31-year-old admitted the physical toll of the attempt. “I’m exhausted, I feel tired,” she said. “I tried to be the fastest woman under four minutes. I've proven it's possible—it’s only a matter of time. I think it will come one day, if not me, someone else.”
The feat of running a mile in under four minutes has long been one of the sport's iconic milestones. British runner Roger Bannister first achieved it in 1954, clocking 3:59.4 in Oxford under vastly different conditions—on a cinder track, wearing heavy spikes, and after working a shift at a hospital.
Since Bannister’s legendary performance, nearly 2,000 male athletes have broken the barrier. Kipyegon’s effort marks the most serious female attempt yet, indicating that a sub-four-minute mile for women may be imminent.
Though she did not break the barrier this time, Kipyegon’s performance once again reaffirms her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history—and sets the stage for what could be a historic achievement in the near future.
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