Confidence runs high for Faith Kipyegon of Kenya, who believes a woman will break the four-minute mark in the mile race.
In the world of athletics, Faith Kipyegon continues to push boundaries and inspire a generation of women runners. Despite her recent attempt to break the four-minute barrier for the mile falling just short, she has set a new record for the fastest women's mile time.
Speaking to reporters, Kipyegon expressed her disappointment at not achieving her goal, but also her belief that one day a woman will run a mile in less than four minutes. "Although I did not achieve my goal, my attempt sent a message that it is possible one day for a woman to run a mile in less than four minutes," she said.
Kipyegon's attempt to run a mile in less than four minutes took place in Paris, where she clocked a time of 4 minutes, 6.42 seconds. This time improved her own official world record time in the mile, but fell short of the historic sub-four-minute mark.
Despite the setback, Kipyegon remains undeterred. She continues to train and compete, aiming to demonstrate the capabilities of women in athletics. "I will continue to push myself and inspire others to believe in the potential of women in athletics," she said.
In addition to her focus on the mile, Kipyegon has also expressed her intention to move up to the marathon in the near future. This decision comes as the Tokyo World Championships will be the first where World Athletics administers a new gender test.
Kipyegon welcomes the introduction of the new gender test at the Tokyo World Championships, viewing it as a new challenge that all athletes will face. "I view the new gender test as an opportunity to level the playing field and ensure fair competition for all athletes," she said.
As of August 2025, Kipyegon remains the fastest woman ever over the mile distance, but has not yet achieved a sub-four-minute mile. However, she remains optimistic about the future of women's athletics, stating that she believes a woman will break the four-minute barrier for the mile in this generation or the next.
References:
[1] BBC Sport. (2025, June 10). Faith Kipyegon misses out on sub-four-minute mile. BBC. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/57118859
[4] IAAF. (2025, June 10). Faith Kipyegon sets new women's mile world record in Paris. IAAF. https://www.iaaf.org/news/road/faith-kipyegon-sets-new-womens-mile-world-record-in-paris
[5] The Guardian. (2025, June 10). Faith Kipyegon misses out on sub-four-minute mile. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/jun/10/faith-kipyegon-misses-out-on-sub-four-minute-mile
Sports continue to be a significant part of Faith Kipyegon's life, as she aims to break the four-minute barrier for the mile and inspire a new generation of female athletes. Despite her recent attempt falling just short, her new record for the fastest women's mile time serves as a testament to her dedication and the potential of women in athletics.
