U.S. resident Muhammad expresses admiration for Kipyegon's endeavor to break the four-minute mile barrier.
Refreshed Take:
BENGALURU: The pending attempt by Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon to run a sub-four minute mile leaves Dalilah Muhammad, the 2016 400m hurdles Olympic champ, in a state of awe. Muhammad thinks this endeavor could revolutionize the landscape for women in sports.
Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is gearing up for the unofficial sub-four minute mile as part of Nike's "Breaking 4" project. She'll make her ambitious attempt on June 26 at Stade Charlety, Paris—the very same venue where she smashed her own 1,500m world record last year.
"I'm flabbergasted! I can hardly believe it… I want to be there," said Muhammad, the International Event Ambassador for the TCS World 10K Bengaluru. "The fact that a woman is even attempting it blows my mind. This is just incredible!"
Historically, the four-minute mile has stood as a legendary milestone in athletics, initially set by Roger Bannister nearly 70 years ago. While men have surpassed this threshold for decades, no woman has managed to do so yet. By challenging this barrier, Kipyegon redefines what seemed insurmountable for women.
"This attempt by Kipyegon shatters age-old notions about female athletic limits and endurance capacity," explains sports commentator Samantha Gold. "It's a powerful testament to what women athletes can achieve."
Muhammad, 35, who earlier this month declared her intent to retire after the 2025 season, believes age is just a number for athletes chasing their dreams. "I feel better than ever at 35. There's no slowing down—we just need to adapt," she said.
World Athletics plans to introduce genetic testing for women to tighten eligibility rules, but Muhammad expresses concerns over the invasive nature of the procedures. "In light of stories like Caster Semenya's, I have my reservations," Muhammad shares.
Muhammad, who won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2016 Rio Olympics, followed by gold (4x400m relay) and silver (400m hurdles) at the 2020 Tokyo Games, announced that this year's World Athletics Championships in Tokyo will likely be her final outing.
Muhammad revealed no plans to return to the track for the 2028 Los Angeles Games, but highlighted U.S. athlete Alexis Holmes—a member of the 4x400m gold-medal winning team in Paris—as someone worth keeping an eye on in the 400m. "She's a fantastic relay runner," Muhammad adds, "and she's primed to push boundaries in women's athletics."
Dalilah Muhammad, building on her admiration for Faith Kipyegon's ambitious sub-four minute mile attempt, believes it could set new parameters for the future of women in sports. As Muhammad prepares for her retirement after the 2025 season, she's keeping an eye on U.S. athlete Alexis Holmes, who, like Kipyegon, is primed to redefine women's athletic limits.
