Athletics: Kipyegon ready to attack four-minute mile in Paris
In a Nike 'Breaking4' project, following the success of Eliud Kipchoge's unofficial sub-two hour marathon, his 31-year-old compatriot will attempt the feat in the city's Stade Charlety, where she set her 1,500 and 5,000 metres World Records.
If the weather is as favourable as the forecast, Kipyegon will run in a host of innovative apparel and the inevitable improved 85-gram super-spikes that Nike say will give her the edge.
But the biggest impact is likely to come from her pacers and their computer-designed positions that should maximise the essential drafting benefit.
Kipchoge was shielded by an arrow formation of pacers, who dipped in and out of the race to ensure they were fresh enough to hold the necessary speed.
It's not a race against the clock. It's a race against the "impossible."
At Breaking4, Faith Kipyegon will dare to become the first woman to break the 4-minute mile. Stream live on YouTube, June 26th at 7:15 PM CEST / 10:15 AM PST: https://t.co/gIvaPkzez0. pic.twitter.com/cWtZx1EL33 — Nike (@Nike) June 6, 2025
Kipyegon will need every ounce of help she can get to find the more than seven seconds she needs to beat her own 2023 record of 4:07.64, which took almost five seconds off Sifan Hassan's 2019 mark in the rarely-run distance.
To break the four-minute barrier, Kipyegon will need to run each of her four and a bit laps an average of nearly two seconds faster than her previous best and she hopes her special relationship with Stade Charlety will help.
'I absolutely think there's special energy at this track,' she said. 'I have beautiful memories of Paris, breaking the 5,000 World record, breaking the 1,500 World record there. And now we are going for this special one, and I think the track will bring good results.'
Kipyegon won the Olympic 1,500m title at the 2016, 2020 and 2024 Games and the World title in 2017, 2022 and 2023, when she also took 5,000m gold. The Kenyan will hope to add to her haul at September's World championships in Tokyo.
As well as the mile record, she holds the 1,500m World mark of 3:49.04 - although her 5,000 record was broken by Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay - and barely seemed to break stride despite 21 months away from the track after having a baby in 2018.
Britain's Roger Bannister was the first man to go under four minutes in May 1954, with compatriot Diane Leather the first woman to break five minutes later the same month. The current men's record is the 3:43.13 set by Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'Athletes Can Tag PMO To Raise Issues, We Used To Train In 50 Degrees': Vijender Singh Explains How Indian Boxing Has Changed
Vijender Singh has discussed the evolution of Indian boxing over 17-18 years, highlighting improved facilities and social media's role in addressing issues. Beijing Olympics bronze medallist boxer Vijender Singh has said that over the last 17-18 years, a lot has changed in Indian boxing and cited access to internet as a major tool that has helped athletes raise concerns, if any, with vastly improved facilities nowadays compared to his time. Vijender had created history in 2008 when he became the first Indian boxer to win a medal at the Olympics. His feat was matched by Mary Kom at the 2012 London Olympics and by Lovlina Borgohain in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 'Nowadays, athletes have internet access. Back then, the internet was just starting in India. Now, if there is any issue, the athletes can tag PMO and those can be solved, but don't ask about our times. We didn't even have AC in the training halls. Before winning the Olympic medal, we used to train in 50 degrees," Vijender said while speaking to News18 Sports on the sidelines of a felicitation event organised by the Boxing Federation of India for athletes who won medals at the Brazil and Astana World Cups. Vijender though said he was disappointed at the boxers not receiving proper welcome at the airport upon their return from the global tournaments. Since Vijender, no Indian male boxer has been able to win an Olympic medal. Indian male pugilists have especially disappointed at the Summer Games, with most of their campaigns finishing in the Round of 16. Asked what his mantra was to win an Olympic medal, the 39-year-old grinned and said that he wanted a promotion at his job as a police officer. 'I was a police inspector. As soon as I won the Olympic medal, they made me DSP. I knew I would get an AC room once I came back. That's what I thought in my mind," Vijender said. 'If you dream, if you think of it, you can do it. sake (God gave you brain to think). So that you can visualise your dream," he added. When asked about his expectations from the LA 2028 Olympics, Vijender said, 'Keep your hopes high. Ummeed pe duniya kaayam hai (The world rests on hope)." view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Mint
an hour ago
- Mint
No Neeraj Chopra vs Arshad Nadeem at Silesia Diamond League? Here's what we know so far about IND vs PAK javelin clash
Neeraj Chopra's much-awaited battle with Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem in the men's javelin event at the Silesia Diamond League on August 16 looks uncertain after the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medallist underwent a calf muscle surgery in the United Kingdom. The 27-year-old had an right calf interventional procedure at the Spire Hospital in Cambridge under Dr Ali Bajwa. He is currently undergoing rehabilitation in London. The Silesia Diamond League was expected to be the first India vs Pakistan javelin face-off since the two competed at the Olympics last year in Paris, where Nadeem threw his spear to a distance of 92.97m to claim gold medal. It was also an Olympic record. While Nadeem topped the podium, Chopra had to settle for silver with a throw of 89.45m. The development of Nadeem's surgery was confirmed by his coach Salman Butt. According to Butt, Nadeem underwent the surgery with an eye on the upcoming World Championships. 'He (Nadeem) is more focused on preparing for the World Championships in Tokyo in September, which is why he decided to have the surgery on his calf muscle, which had been bothering him for a while now,' Butt told PTI. 'I don't think they (Neeraj and Nadeem) will compete against each other until the World event.'
NDTV
2 hours ago
- NDTV
Unnati Hooda Bows Out Of China Open After Quarterfinal Loss To Akane Yamaguchi
India's rising badminton star Unnati Hooda's dream run ended at the China Open Super 1000 as she lost to world number 4 Akane Yamaguchi of Japan in straight games in the quarterfinals on Friday. The 17-year-old, who scripted her biggest career win against 'idol' and two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu, lost 16-21, 12-21 in a match that lasted 33 minutes. With Hooda's exit, India's singles campaign in the tournament came to an end. In the opening game, Hooda kept pace with Yamaguchi early on but failed to sustain the momentum, with the Japanese star reeling off five consecutive points at one stage to take it 21-16. Hooda's best run was taking three points in a row. The second game followed a similar script. Despite a brief fightback where she won four straight points, Hooda fell behind as Yamaguchi strung together six consecutive points and wrapped up the second game 21-12. Overall, Yamaguchi won 42 of the 70 points played across both games. Hooda on Thursday stunned former world champion Sindhu 21-16, 19-21, 21-13 in the pre-quarterfinals. India's top men's doubles pair Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty will be in action later in the day against Malaysia's Yew Sin Ong and Ee Yi Teo in the quarterfinals.
