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The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Faith Kipyegon certain a woman will break four-minute mile barrier within a decade
Faith Kipyegon remains convinced that a woman will break the four-minute mile barrier within 10 years, despite falling more than six seconds short in her record attempt in Paris. It was a disappointing result for Kipyegon and her sponsor Nike, who had hoped that aerodynamic skinsuits, lighter super spikes and a team of 13 pacers would help the 31-year-old Kenyan get within touching distance of the famous mark. But speaking to the Guardian on the morning after running 4min 06.42sec in Paris, Kipyegon insisted she was still proud to have rolled the dice – and to have run a mile quicker than any woman in history. She also predicted that new technology was coming that would also help Britain's Keely Hodgkinson break the women's 800m world record of 1min 53.28sec, which has stood since 1983. 'Absolutely there will be a woman running a mile in under four minutes,' she said. 'And I think it will take less than 10 years. And if it doesn't come my way, it will be someone else doing it.' Asked why she was so confident, given the gap was still more than six seconds, she replied: 'Going forward, the technology will be even higher than what I was using yesterday. So I think one day, one time, it will happen.' Kipyegon admitted that she had struggled in the final 200m, having heard the bell in 3:01. But she insisted she would not have changed anything about her attempt. 'Birds sometimes fall but they fly again,' she said. 'I believe I will still lower the world record of 4.07. I want to get it very close to the four minutes mark. And I believe I can still run under 4.05 in a race with female pacemakers.' Kipyegon's next race will be over 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, next week, and she insists she is in shape to challenge her world record of 3:49.04. However she said there are no plans yet to have another crack at the four-minute mile barrier. In Paris she spoke to Hodgkinson, who told her she is hungry to go faster once she has recovered from a hamstring injury. 'I talked with Keely yesterday about everything,' said Kipyegon. 'And my run was a huge inspiration for her. She's hungry to go under 1.54 in the 800m. And I think Keely Hodgkinson one day, one time, will run under 1.53. She is so fast.' Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Nike's chief innovation officer, Tony Bignell, who has worked with the company since helping design spikes for Michael Johnson at the Atlanta and Sydney Games, promised that there would be more innovation and attempts at breaking records. 'Yes, I've seen things in the lab, and I've put things on my foot where I've thought: 'I've never felt that before,'' said Bignell. 'And that's coming. 'Last night could have been anywhere on a scale of zero to 10, but we took the risk. And taking risks is a good thing.'
The Guardian
a day ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Faith Kipyegon certain a woman will break four-minute mile barrier within a decade
Faith Kipyegon remains convinced that a woman will break the four-minute mile barrier within 10 years, despite falling more than six seconds short in her record attempt in Paris. It was a disappointing result for Kipyegon and her sponsors Nike, who had hoped that aerodynamic skinsuits, lighter superspikes and a team of 13 pacers would help the 31-year-old Kenyan get within touching distance of the famous mark. But speaking to the Guardian on the morning after running 4min 06.22sec in Paris, Kipyegon insisted that she was still proud to have rolled the dice – and to have run a mile quicker than any woman in history. She also predicted that the new technology was coming that would also help Britain's Keely Hodgkinson break the women's 800m world record of 1min 53.28sec which has stood since 1983. 'Absolutely there will be a woman running a mile in under four minutes,' she said. 'And I think it will take less than 10 years. And if it doesn't come my way, it will be someone else doing it.' Asked why she was so confident, given the gap was still more than six seconds, she replied: 'Going forward, the technology will be even higher than what I was using yesterday. So I think one day, one time, it will happen.' Kipyegon admitted that she had struggled in the final 200m, having heard the bell in 3:01. But she insisted that she would have changed anything about her attempt. 'Birds sometimes fall but they fly again,' she said. 'I believe I will still lower the world record of 4.07. I want to get it very close to the four minutes mark. And I believe I can still run under 4.05 in a race with female pacemakers.' Kipyegon's next race will be over 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic next week, and she insists she is in shape to challenge her world record of 3min 49sec. However she said there are no plans yet to have another crack at the four-minute mile barrier. Meanwhile in Paris she also spoke to Hodgkinson, who told her she is hungry to go faster in the future once she has recovered from a hamstring injury. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'I talked with Keely yesterday about everything,' said Kipyegon. 'And my run was a huge inspiration for her. She's hungry to go under 1.54 in the 800m. And I think Keely Hodgkinson one day, one time, will run under 1.53. She is so fast.' Nike's chief innovation officer, Tony Bignell, who has worked with the company since helping design spikes for Michael Johnson at the Atlanta and Sydney Games, promised that there would be more innovation and attempts at breaking records. 'Yes, I've seen things in the lab, and I've put things on my foot where I've thought: 'I've never felt that before,'' said Bignell. 'And that's coming. Last night could have been anywhere on a scale of zero to 10, but we took the risk. And taking risks is a good thing.'
Daily Mail
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
How Princess Charlotte is following in her late grandmother Princess Diana's footsteps
Barefoot, a jubilant smile across her face and arms outstretched in celebration, she had just crossed the finish line of the mothers' race at her son William's primary school. Princess Diana had a competitive streak and a passion for athletics, which she seems to have passed on to her granddaughter, despite the two never having the chance to meet. Diana was known to roller-skate and ride a bicycle inside Buckingham Palace, which was depicted in The Crown, as well as having a fondness for 1980s trends such as step aerobics and power walking. Ten-year-old Princess Charlotte, the only daughter of Kate Middleton and Diana's elder son William, was described by her father as a 'keen runner' and is training for the 400m, as well as the hurdles. Prince William spoke with Olympic middle-distance runner Keely Hodgkinson, 23, during her investiture at Windsor Castle earlier this year. Hodgkinson received her MBE after winning gold in the women's 800m at the Paris Olympics last year. She became the first British track and field star to win Olympic gold since Sir Mo Farah back in 2016. Princess Diana is pictured competing in the mothers' race at Prince William's school sports day in 1989 The 23-year-old was named on the New Year's Honours list following her astonishing year, which had also seen her defend her European title. Hodgkinson was pictured in conversation and laughing with Prince William as she received her gong at Windsor Castle, before revealing he had told her his daughter Princess Charlotte is a keen runner. 'The prince told me his daughter is doing the 400m at the minute and the hurdles and that she did watch me in Paris,' Hodgkinson told PA. 'He told me that he remembers me winning and that he wished he could be there to see it himself.' This wasn't the only time proud father William gushed about his daughter's sporting achievements. In 2022 William visited the England Lionesses training ground in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, where he spoke with captain Leah Williamson. He told her that Charlotte had asked him to pass on the message that she is 'really good in goal'. The young princess's interest in exercise is no surprise, given the Royal Family's fondness for sport. Keely Hodgkinson was pictured in conversation and laughing with Prince William as she received her MBE at Windsor Castle, before revealing he had told her his daughter Princess Charlotte is a keen runner Royals have a long history of participating in and supporting various sports, including polo, horse racing and equestrian events. Some members of the family have even achieved success at Olympic level, such as Princess Anne and Zara Tindall in three-day eventing. Speaking to the Telegraph last October, Mike Tindall said that Kate 'loves her running', while Prince George takes after his father and 'loves his football', adding that he often plays with him in the garden. Referring to William's favourite team, he added: 'He's passionate about Aston Villa, too. Wherever he is, he'll sit down and watch that game. They're just a family who love sport.' In 2006, the Prince of Wales became President of the Football Association, and regularly attends both FA Cup finals and England games. As well as supporting national football, he champions the grassroots game. He has previously said: 'At its best, football is a powerful force for good in society. It binds people from different backgrounds, communities, faiths and abilities and gives them a common interest, a unifying identity.' The princess is starstruck as she shakes hands with Dominican swimmer Warren Lawrence Kate is keen tennis fan and became patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in 2016. In this capacity she regularly presents the trophies at the Wimbledon final. According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, sports and physical activities, particularly roller-skating, were an important part of Princess Diana's life and a way for her to relax and escape the pressures of palace life. Diana's personal trainer Jenni Rivett said: 'Exercise is such an incredible release for anxiety and other low feelings. I believe as her body became fit, strong and healthy, she felt empowered and ready to face those bad times head-on.' Unlike Charlotte, who is reportedly a very good student, Diana struggled academically and failed her O-levels. But sports was an area where Diana excelled. She regularly frequented the Chelsea Harbour Club gym in London, one of the country's most prestigious fitness facilities. When her sons Harry and William were at at Wetherby School she regularly participated in the mothers' race in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Diana holds hands with a young Prince Harry who has a sports day ribbon on his jumper in 1988 Wetherby School's sports day was traditionally held at Twickenham rugby ground and Richmond Athletic Ground. Although it was closed to the media, one parent recalled in a Telegraph article from 2001 that television crews and telephoto lenses always ensured the sprinting princess received front-page coverage. In 1989 Harry and William's father, then-Prince Charles, also competed in the fathers' race. Unfortunately, Charles was less triumphant than Diana, coming in 30th place out of 35. Diana, on the other hand, came in second place that year. Kate and William are also said to be 'like a normal mum and dad' when it comes to their children's school events, a source told The Sun. The couple are reported to be 'hands-on' parents who never miss an event at the Lambrook School in Berkshire where their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis, are pupils. As Charlotte grows up and receives increasingly more media attention, there is hope that exercise will be a release for her, as it was for her late grandmother. And we certainly want to see Kate win a mothers' race at sports day.
The Independent
14-06-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
The key change helping Georgia Hunter Bell step out of Keely Hodgkinson's shadow
Olympic 1500m bronze medalist Georgia Hunter Bell is gearing up for her first Diamond League appearance of the 2025 season in Stockholm on Sunday night. Outside of the distance where she dazzled the Parisian crowds and broke Laura Muir 's British record in the process, Hunter Bell will instead line up for an 800m. The 31-year-old will attack the shorter distance, which has become synonymous with her training partner, and Olympic champion, Keely Hodgkinson. Hunter Bell is joined by compatriot Jemma Reekie to take on 800m world champion and the No 1-ranked athlete Mary Moraa. Hunter Bell's talent in the 1,500m is already well known, but she has been making her mark across the shorter distance over the past year, too. With a PB under her belt from last summer and Hodgkinson sidelined with another injury setback, this could be the season for Hunter Bell to rewrite expectations and step out of Hodgkinson's shadow. Her unconventional journey is one of resilience. Hunter Bell was a high-achieving runner at youth level, but a stagnant period due to injury saw the Briton's passion for the sport dwindle. She took a five-year hiatus after college, pursuing a corporate career in cybersecurity, only to rekindle her love for running during the Covid pandemic. Now a full-time professional track star, she has built a schedule consisting of cross-training, altitude camps and full-time track focus, benefiting from the same infrastructure that has helped Hodgkinson conquer the sport. Team GB's golden girl has already set the bar high, but Hunter Bell seems to thrive on a challenge. The Paris-born runner set an 800m PB of 1:56.28 at the London Diamond League last year, finishing behind just Hodgkinson and Reekie for an all-British podium. This season will be the optimal chance for Hunter Bell to leverage the same mindset that propelled Hodgkinson from a silver medal in Tokyo to the golden crown four years later. Full-time training has allowed her to finally commit to lifting her power on the track. Continuity and consistency over this season will be vital for her to build on last year's explosive breakthrough. After opening up on dealing with body shaming and online abuse following her Olympic fairytale, Hunter Bell has grown mentally stronger and ready to take the next step as a serial medal winner or gold medalist in a global championship. 'I have had to get quite a thick skin quite quickly, ever since last summer,' she said. 'There is a really dark side of social media where people write things about you, your body, how you look, what they think of you, your performance.' Developing a champion's mindset and coming off social media is key as she plans to distance herself from the 'underdog' title. She told PA news agency: 'Everyone else has their expectations and that's great, but I'm more, I don't want to just have one great year and fall off.' She finished third overall on her Grand Slam Track debut two weeks ago and is now considered a top contender for major events. She has also teased a potential event double at the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo this September. So a strong performance this summer, in both events, could place her firmly in contention to upgrade her Olympic medal at LA2028 and perhaps even challenge Hodgkinson in her preferred event. But to get there, she needs clean execution, tactical maturity, and the mental frame of a winner. If she can put all three together in Stockholm with a maiden Diamond League victory over for grabs, then the M11 Track Club, led by Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, could have another superstar on their hands.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stockholm Diamond League schedule and start times including Mondo Duplantis
The athletics party isn't stopping yet and Stockholm is the next stop on the Diamond League circuit this week. This time, the world's best will be travelling to Sweden for the seventh meet of the 2025 calendar. With Paris 800m Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson hit by another injury setback, her hopes of making her first outdoor appearance of the season this weekend have vanished. Now, the field is wide open and anyone's for the taking. Hodgkinson's British compatriots, Jemma Reekie and Georgia Hunter Bell, will be on the start line on Sunday night and hoping to make their mark in their first 800m appearances of the season. Reekie finished fourth in the 1500m in Doha meet last month. The Scot will be looking for a repeat here after storming home to an 800m victory at the 2024 Stockholm meet. Hunter Bell makes her first appearance at the Diamond League this year, and following her dazzling 1500m bronze medal in Paris last year, the 31-year-old is looking stronger than ever to become a serious contender for the win this weekend. Dutch star Femke Bol is back in action this weekend in the 400m hurdles, looking to better the season's best she set in Rabat last month. The 25-year-old has dominated the event since her breakthrough in 2020, winning 25 individual wins and four consecutive Diamond League titles. Swedish fans will be hooked as their golden boy, Mondo Duplantis, attempts to produce another masterclass in the pole vault. After his performance in Oslo, it will be more of a question of how high his vaulting prowess can propel him, rather than where the 25-year old will place. Paris Olympic high jump champion Yaroslava Mahuchikh comes into the Stockholm event as one of only two women to have jumped over two metres this season. The other being Australia's Nicola Olyslagers, who is sure to be hot on her heels, finishing just behind the Ukrainian for the silver medal in Paris. Great Britain's Amber Anning lines up in the 400m yet again after a third place run and season's best in Oslo last night. She is up against Last night's winner, Isabella Whittaker from the USA, and Norway's Henriette Jaeger, who took skin off her elbow to thrust herself over the finish line for second place in a personal best time in front of her home crowd last night. After a spectacular new world best in the men's 300m hurdles last night, Norway's Karsten Warholm will return to his familiar format of the 400m hurdles. He will be taking on some of the same faces he left in the dust on Thursday evening, including rivals Rai Benjamin and Alison dos Santos. The Stockholm Diamond League meeting will be held on Sunday 12 June 2025 at the historic Olympic Stadium. UK coverage of the Stockholm Diamond League will be available to watch on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer, with the broadcast and live stream beginning at 5pm. (All times BST) 5:14 pm - high jump women 5:17pm - pole vault men 6:04pm - 400m hurdles women 6:13pm - 200m men 6:20pm - 3000m women 6:23pm - long jump women 6:39pm - 100m hurdles women 6:48pm - 800m men 6:55pm - discus men 7:00pm - 400m women 7:09pm - 5000m men 7:31 - 800m women 7:42 - 100m women 7:52 - 400m hurdles men
