Faith Kipyegon’s Historic Run: How to Watch the First-Ever Female Attempt at a Sub-4-Minute Mile

On June 26, 2025, Kenya’s legendary middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon will step onto the track at Stade Sébastien Charléty in Paris with one goal: to become the first woman in history to run a mile in under four minutes. Dubbed “Breaking4,” the highly anticipated event is organized by Nike and follows the model of Eliud Kipchoge’s iconic sub-two-hour marathon, blending elite athleticism with cutting-edge sports science.

Already a three-time Olympic gold medalist and world record holder in the 1500m and mile, Kipyegon now aims to break one of athletics’ most symbolic barriers. Her current mile record stands at 4:07.64, set in 2023 in Monaco. To dip under four minutes, she will need to slash over seven seconds off that mark—an astonishing challenge in a discipline where improvements are often measured in tenths of a second.

When and Where to Watch

Kipyegon’s moonshot race will take place on the evening of Wednesday, June 26, 2025, in Paris.

• Time: 8:00 PM CEST (Paris) / 2:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM CT / 7:00 PM BST
• How to watch: The event will stream live for free across Nike’s official YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Douyin channels. It will also be available globally via Prime Video, with pre-race coverage starting 45 minutes before the race. Replays will be made available shortly afterward.

Nike is also collaborating with communities and running groups around the world to host live watch parties, including online commentary from running-focused platforms like LetsRun.com.

The Science Behind the Attempt

While this will not be an official world record attempt—due to the use of pacers, laser-guided pacing systems, and advanced gear—the run is expected to reset global expectations for what women in athletics can achieve. Kipyegon will be surrounded by rotating pacers, guided by trackside lasers, and dressed in custom-engineered aerodynamic apparel. She’ll be wearing Nike’s cutting-edge Victory Elite FK spikes, which feature lightweight carbon-plated soles designed to maximize speed and efficiency.

Sports scientists estimate that under these optimized conditions, Kipyegon could run the mile in around 3:59.3, narrowly breaching the four-minute mark.

More Than a Record

Kipyegon’s attempt has already captured global attention—not just for the possibility of rewriting the record books, but for what it symbolizes. The four-minute mile has long been a male-dominated benchmark, famously broken by Roger Bannister in 1954. No woman has come close to it in official competition. By challenging that legacy, Kipyegon is not only pushing athletic boundaries but also inspiring a new generation of women and girls to believe in the impossible.

Nike, for its part, is positioning the event as both a sporting and cultural moment. The company hopes the attempt will also help reconnect with female athletes and consumers after facing criticism in recent years over its treatment of women in sport.

Legacy in Motion

With three Olympic gold medals and multiple world titles already to her name, Faith Kipyegon is considered the greatest female middle-distance runner of all time. This challenge is not about medals or records—it’s about proving what’s possible when ambition meets preparation.

Speaking ahead of the event, Kipyegon said: “This is not just for me—it’s for every girl who dreams of going faster, further, higher. I want to show them that there are no limits.”

Whether or not she breaks the barrier on June 26, the impact of Kipyegon’s attempt is already resonating. It’s a bold declaration that women in sport deserve the spotlight, the science, and the support to chase greatness.