There are moments in sport when the clock becomes more than just measurement — it becomes a defining moment in history where the boundaries of human potential are expanded. This week, Faith Kipyegon will attempt to shatter that boundary by breaking the four minute mile.
No woman has ever run a mile in under four minutes. The obstacle between Kipyegon and that milestone? Just 7.64 seconds. For me, 7.64 seconds is the difference between making the morning train or the line between my charred toast being edible — but for Kipyegon, it’s a sliver of time that could redefine the limits of possibility in women’s running.
Not long ago, this kind of moonshot would have felt inconceivable. Yet here she stands, poised to attempt it on the same track she won Olympic gold last year at the Stade Charléty stadium in Paris.
Kipyegon, her team, and sponsor Nike have set their sights set on making the impossible possible – and as the hours tick down to race day, the timing of the Breaking4 attempt makes sense.
Over the past decade, both running and women’s sport have entered a renaissance. World records have fallen, appetites for women’s leagues and competitions have soared, and a new generation of girls are seeing themselves reflected in sport like never before.
A melting pot of cultural momentum has brought us to this moment and the world is ready to see women’s running take another giant leap forward. But why, for the first time in history, does this once-unthinkable achievement actually feel within reach?
The answer, like all good ones, doesn’t have a single response. It’s the meeting of technology, timing, opportunity and the layering of history. It’s a convergence of forces that have aligned to make now the moment for Kipyegon to break the four minute barrier.
The Generational Talent That Is Faith Kipyegon
When I heard that Faith Kipyegon would be at the centre of Nike’s Breaking4 attempt, the first thing that came to my mind was: “Well, of course.”
Kipyegon is arguably the one of the greatest female middle-distance runners in history and the 31-year-old is an embodiment of the new era of women’s sport.
She won her first individual global title running barefoot at the World Junior Cross Country Championship in Spain at just 16-years-old. She went on to win five more medals at World Junior Cross Country level and for this overachiever, these medals were only the beginning.
As it stands, she’s a three time Olympic champion in the 1,500 meters and world record holder in the mile. If anyone can shave 7.64 seconds off their mile run to make history, it’s going to be Faith Kipyegon.
Her line-up of achievements prove her extraordinary talent and determination, but beyond medals and finishing times, Kipyegon’s career has also been about legacy.
After she gave birth to her daughter in 2018 she returned to the track faster than before, essentially redefining what’s possible for women in sport. For Kipyegon, it’s not just finish times but her legacy and championing the next generation of athletes is what drives her.
“Being strong, believing in the training, believing in empowering the next generation. Believing in everything that [has made me] from my younger [days] when I was running barefoot to where I am now, that’s what has given me that drive,” she said in a Nike briefing just days out from her attempt.
In 2023 she smashed the world record for the mile and set herself up as the obvious choice to become the first woman in history to break the barrier.
“I’m a three-time Olympic champion. I’ve achieved World Championship titles. I thought, What else? Why not dream outside the box?”
The Perfect Storm: Technology and Talent
To understand why this attempt feels possible now, rather than ten years ago, we have to look beyond the clock. This moment isn’t just about Kipyegon’s athletic brilliance (although her talent goes without question) but a convergence of her talent paired with innovation.
Nike are the driving force behind the Breaking4 project and they’ve created a controlled environment to give her the best chance of success.
Everything has been considered from apparel aerodynamics to race-day set-up. Nike understands that it’s essential to create ideal conditions for the human body to be pushed to new heights if Kipyegon is to succeed.
The team searched all over the world to find a venue that had the perfect track surface and was an ideal distance to Kenya, where Kipyegon trains.
The team picked the Stade Charléty stadium because it ticked all the boxes, plus Kipyegon’s positive affiliations with the venue after her gold medal win last year.
Nike have innovated state of the art technology to create an aerodynamic fly-suit using 3D-printed aeronodes that reduce drag and maximise speed. They’ve literally unlocked new ways to create textiles for her race day fit. The aeronodes are strategically placed on the suit to create areas of turbulence and optimise airflow around the body.
The Nike FlyWeb Bra that she’ll be wearing is created from revolutionary 3D printed TPU material which is a departure from traditional textiles and fibers. It’s soft, lightweight and has optimised moisture management.
The super spikes Kipyegon will race in are custom-engineered with a lighter carbon outsole plate and six spikes, all crafted by her guided feedback.
It’s exciting to see big innovation like this happening inside Nike HQ and hopefully it can be scaled to athletes all over the world and improve performances from the local to elite level.
The Golden Era Of Women’s Sports
Moments like the this attempt don’t come around everyday. It’s a shot at glory, but who is offered a chance at greatness? Kipyegon’s attempt isn’t happening by accident. It’s happening because of technological evolution, her personal trajectory and the alignment of cultural readiness.
For decades, women’s middle-distance running has steadily evolved but often in the shadows of men’s running. In 2025 belief in female athletes is no longer abstract, it’s now based on recent, measurable progress. What used to be a dream is now happening in real time on the track.
“This is an incredible attempt and we believe that moments and situations like this is what helps turbocharge the conversation around equality in sport,” Chantella Perera, Director of Women Sport Australia, told PEDESTRIAN.TV.
“Whilst it shouldn’t take things like this to bring the conversation to the forefront, the incredible attempt shows society what women are capable of.”
“It also shows young girls what is possible and provides great exposure to a sport like athletics,” said Perera.
Perera believes that moments like this prove women’s sport is a valuable business opportunity and while we’re seeing this taken up in international markets, she’s want to see similar moonshot ideas or financial commitments made for women’s sport in Australia.
Between Matildas’ fever, the rise of the women’s NRL and Olympic superstars Jess Fox and Jess Hull capturing the hearts of the nation, it’s obvious they’ve been a huge wave of visibility for female athletes here in Australia. Couple this with the rise of fan interest, media coverage, and financial support into women’s codes internationally, it’s generated a thriving culture around female athletes right now.
(Image Getty)
Whatever the outcome in Paris this week, the attempt alone is symbolic of how women’s sport has caught up not just in terms of talent, but in investment, belief, and support. It’s a statement that women’s limits were never fixed — they just needed the same investment men’s sport has received for decades (or should I say… forever).
We still have a long way to go, but this moment is an embodiment of progress that feels worth celebrating.
The Impacts Of Breaking4 For Australian Women And Runners
While Kipyegon’s mile attempt will unfold in Paris, the impact will be felt way beyond France, including right here in Australia.
Athletics participation has seen sustained growth locally with athlete membership increasing by 204 per cent over the past two decades.
Athletics Australia doesn’t isolate data on middle-distance participation but a spokesperson told PEDESTRIAN.TV that the broader trends are clear: more women and girls are stepping onto the track and into running shoes than ever before and major events have a big impact.
“Jessica Hull’s Olympic silver can be felt all the way down to the grassroots. We’ve heard from clubs across the country that young girls, in particular, have been inspired to get involved after watching Australian and global stars light up the track,” a spokesperson said.
Australia has a proud middle-distance legacy, particularly on the women’s side. Our runners are world-class, cleaning up at the Olympics and at the Diamond League circuit. We want to see more girls stay on the track to ensure we can continue this history.
Chantella Perera believes that providing tailored environments for girls is crucial to attract and retain girls in sport.
“We know that at age of 14 girls drop out at a much larger rate than boys,” she said. We know that different uniforms and access to facilities can be a huge contributor to helping retain girls in sport. We need to continue to gain data and information that can form tailored view of what girls in sport need,” Perera said.
One thing girls certainly need is visibility and seeing Kipyegon’s attemp this week will inspire a generation. If she succeeds, she doesn’t just raise the bar, she obliterates the ceiling. And when the ceiling moves, so do training goals, pacing plans, and the mental framing of what’s worth going after.
For Australian runners, especially young girls, it’s not hard to imagine a future where a sub-four-minute mile isn’t a myth for them to dream about, but a mark for them to chase.
The post Faith Kipyegon Could Be The First Woman To Run A Mile In Under 4 Mins: Here’s Why It’s Possible appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
