Faith Kipyegon made history on Thursday night, running the fastest mile ever by a woman in Paris, clocking an astonishing 4 minutes, 06.42 seconds.
While not an official world record due to pacemakers and advanced gear, the time shattered her own best by 1.22 seconds, bringing her tantalizingly close to breaking the mythical four-minute barrier.
The 31-year-old Kenyan, a three-time Olympic 1500m champion, pushed to her absolute limit in pursuit of the once-impossible feat.
“I have proven that it is possible, it is only a matter of time,” a resilient Kipyegon stated after collapsing at the finish line. “I will not lose hope, I will still go for it.”
Kipyegon’s official women’s mile record of 4:07.64, set in July 2023, remains nearly five seconds faster than any other woman has run.
Today’s attempt saw her aided by 13 pacemakers and sporting an aerodynamic skinsuit and specialized Nike spikes. Despite a blistering pace, the sub-four dream faded in the final 400 meters.
To young girls watching, Kipyegon delivered a powerful message: “We are not limited. We can limit ourselves with thoughts, but it is possible to try everything and prove to the world that we are strong. Keep pushing.”
