Double Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and two-time Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri believe Faith Kipyegon has what it takes to break the four-minute mile barrier at the Stade Charlety in Paris on Thursday.
The landmark attempt, branded 'Breaking4' by her sponsor Nike, promises to be one of the most anticipated solo middle-distance runs in history.
Kipyegon, the triple Olympic 1,500m champion, is the current women’s Mile world record holder, courtesy of her 4:07.64 scorcher at the 2023 Monaco Diamond League. But on Thursday night, she will attempt to do what no woman has ever done: dip under the four-minute barrier.
A sub-four performance would elevate the 30-year-old into an elite stratosphere, bridging the performance gulf with male counterparts led by Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj, who clocked 3:43.13 in Rome in 1999—a record that still stands.
If successful, the feat would not only redefine the boundaries of women’s middle-distance running but further cement Kipyegon's status as the greatest female miler of all time.
Kipchoge, her training partner in Kaptagat under coach Patrick Sang, believes she has what it takes. "Faith is a true inspiration for our World. If there's any one person to do it, it is you. Go for it," Kipchoge shared.
Kipchoge himself is no stranger to breaking barriers. In 2019, during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, the marathon icon became the first human to run the 42.195km distance in under two hours, clocking 1:59:40.2 with the help of a rotating team of 41 pacemakers. Though not ratified by World Athletics due to controlled conditions, the run was hailed as one of the most groundbreaking achievements in athletics history.
He had previously attempted to run a two-hour marathon at the Breaking2 event organised by Nike in 2017, but he fell short by 25 seconds.
Kipchoge highlighted that it was an honour to support Kipyegon as she prepares to do the unthinkable. "It's an honour for us to support Faith as she prepares to achieve the unthinkable and to break down the barriers of human performance," he added.
Meanwhile, Obiri, fresh from winning the New York Mini 10K, echoed similar sentiments. "I have been watching Faith, and I think she is in great shape," Obiri shared after the New York 10 K. "I believe and trust that she can go sub-four; she has what it takes to achieve that."
To aid her bold attempt, Nike has equipped Kipyegon with bespoke gear, including a state-of-the-art "Fly Suit" engineered to reduce aerodynamic drag and customised racing spikes inspired by her trusted Zoom Victory 2s.
Kipyegon will be buoyed by her previous performances in the French capital. It was at the Diamond League in the French capital where she blazed to a 3:49.04 1,500m world record in 2023 and followed it up with a stunning 14:05.20 in the 5,000m.
Her mark was, however, surpassed by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (14:00.21) that same year at the Prefontaine Classic.
