Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon plans to break the four-minute barrier in the mile race next month. The 31-year-old set her attempt for June 26 in Paris. She already holds the current women's mile world record at four minutes 7.64 seconds from last year. She needs to run more than seven seconds faster to reach her goal. Officials will not recognize it as an official record because she might use rotating pacemakers and advanced Nike equipment.
Kipyegon said she wanted a new challenge after her Olympic successes. She hopes her attempt will inspire other women to pursue their dreams. The three-time Olympic 1500m champion also holds multiple world titles and the world record for that distance. She earned gold in the 5000m at the 2023 World Championships as well. Kipyegon achieved five of these gold medals after having her daughter Alyn in 2018.
She believes motherhood changed her mental approach to running. Roger Bannister first broke the four-minute mile barrier for men in May 1954, and Diane Leather became the first woman to run under five minutes that same month. The current men's record stands at 3:43.13, set by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. Fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon under two hours in 2019, but it remains unofficial for similar reasons.
Kipyegon said she wanted a new challenge after her Olympic successes. She hopes her attempt will inspire other women to pursue their dreams. The three-time Olympic 1500m champion also holds multiple world titles and the world record for that distance. She earned gold in the 5000m at the 2023 World Championships as well. Kipyegon achieved five of these gold medals after having her daughter Alyn in 2018.
She believes motherhood changed her mental approach to running. Roger Bannister first broke the four-minute mile barrier for men in May 1954, and Diane Leather became the first woman to run under five minutes that same month. The current men's record stands at 3:43.13, set by Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj in 1999. Fellow Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge ran a marathon under two hours in 2019, but it remains unofficial for similar reasons.
