Shades of Eliud Kipchoge and his two attempts to run a marathon in under two hours. Nike and Global Sports Communication announced that three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will attempt to become the first woman in history to run a mile in under four minutes.
She is also a four-time world champion and two-time world record-holder.
The historic attempt will take place during a special event titled “Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile” at the Stade Charléty in Paris on June 26, 2025, a time and location specifically selected to align with her training schedule and maximize her performance.
In her attempt, Kipyegon is pursuing a feat that was once considered an insurmountable limitation and has, until now, remained beyond the reach of the world’s most elite women athletes. She will attempt to shave at least 7.65 seconds off her world record time of 4:07.64, set in 2023, to become the first woman to break the threshold Roger Bannister first surpassed roughly 70 years ago.
“I want this attempt to say to women, ‘You can dream and make your dreams valid,’” said Kipyegon. “This is the way to go as women, to push boundaries and dream big.”
“Kipyegon has come a long way as an athlete. From youth to juniors to seniors. From a Commonwealth medal to world championship titles, Olympic titles, and even world records. She has also grown a lot as a human being. Understanding the sport more deeply, becoming a mother, and building meaningful relationships both within and beyond the sport,” said Valentijn Trouw, Performance Director at Global Sports Communication. “The Breaking4 project is the culmination of all these elements coming together: chasing the unthinkable in the sport while inspiring millions around the world with her personality and enthusiasm.”
Kipyegon has run 14:05.20 in the 5000m in Stade Charléty in June 2023. A month later, she set the world record in the track mile (1609m) at the Stade Louis II with her 4:07.64. Her metric mile (1500m) best is a slightly better performance and also a world record at 3:49.04 set a month later in Monaco. The 31-year-old won Olympic gold in the 1500m during the Rio, Tokyo and Paris Olympic Games.
