Faith Kipyegon attempts to break the four-minute mile barrier on June 26 in Paris, with support from Nike and Safaricom.
On June 26, Kenya’s athletics queen Faith Kipyegon will be attempting a feat that no woman has ever attempted before. A sub-4 minute mile which means she will need to run one mile in under 4 minutes. This is one of the most anticipated athletics events this year and Kenyans are strongly behind Faith. This is not just another race, it is an attempt at something that is considered physiologically impossible and what I love about this is that Faith said, bring it on!
The elusive sub-4 mile is a benchmark for elite running and a test of speed, endurance and months of training by Faith. In the men category, it was broken in 1954 and for women, the fastest race ever is 4:07.64, a record that was set by none other than Faith Kipyegon herself. Faith is now attempting to beat her own record and to do this, she will need to shave 8 seconds. That’s a bold leap at this level of performance!
The race will be happening on June 26 at Stade Charléty in Paris and is part of Nike’s focus on performance led events where athletes push their limits with backing from Nike’s expertise, science, and controlled conditions.
And Nike has zeroed in on the conditions to near performance. Faith’s kit is specially designed and built with advanced features like the Nike Dragonfly v2 spikes and ZoomX foam midsole to improve grip. She will also wear a laser cut Nike Aeroswift speed suit that is custom made for this exact race. Everything about her gear has been tuned for speed, from the recycled materials to the 3D-printed bib fasteners designed to reduce drag. Read more on the fascinating details on Nike’s site.
The event is scheduled take place at night since the cooler evening temperatures are ideal for optimal running conditions. This further goes to show that the event is not about precision, and everything has been put under consideration – temperature, wind direction, and gear. The goal is clear – leave nothing to chance.
Kipyegon is no stranger to wins and records. She holds the 1500m, 500m and the mile records which as mentioned above she set at 4.07.64. She has dominated the middle distance events with consistency and this has set her apart, and with great pride for her and Kenya. Breaking the four minutes in the mile race will be yet another sharp addition in an already decorated athletics career.
Kenya is firmly behind Faith and towards this, Safaricom which is backing the race will be offering a special YouTube bundle of 4GB for Ksh. 4 for us to catch the race. This is not the first time Safaricom is partnering with Faith or with Kenyan stars in athletics and other fields.
In 2023, Safaricom awarded her Kshs. 2 million cash reward for her exemplary achievement after breaking two world records in 1500m and 5000m races. Further, Safaricom displayed Faith Kipyegon’s image on the KICC building as part of her recognition and celebration.
You can catch the race live on YouTube on June 26 starting at 8 p.m. Kenyan time. That’s our chance to watch one of the greatest athletes of our time go for something no woman has achieved.
The sub-4 mile isn’t just about beating the clock. It’s about narrowing the gap between what we think is possible and what actually is. If anyone can do this, it is Faith Kipyegon. Go Faith!! #Kenya4Faith.
