A look at Faith Kipyegon's special Nike gear for record breaking attempt [PHOTOS]
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 12.06.25. | 20:24
The bold project is Nike’s latest moonshot, echoing Eliud Kipchoge’s famous Breaking2 marathon in 2017.
Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon is not only chasing history; she is dressed for it.
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As the middle-distance queen prepares for a groundbreaking attempt to become the first woman in history to run a mile in under four minutes, Nike has unveiled the specially engineered gear designed to help her defy limits during the Breaking4 initiative.
The high-stakes challenge is set to unfold at Paris’ Stade Charléty between Thursday, 26 and Saturday, 28 June, allowing organisers to stage the event under optimal weather conditions.
The bold project is Nike’s latest moonshot, echoing Eliud Kipchoge’s famous Breaking2 marathon in 2017.
Kipyegon’s current world mile record stands at 4:07.64, and now she is aiming to dip under the elusive four-minute barrier, a feat no woman has ever achieved.
To support this unprecedented attempt, Nike has developed and customised several pieces of high-tech gear tailored specifically for Kipyegon’s anatomy, comfort, and performance needs.
1. The Fly Suit
Kipyegon will don a sleek, aerodynamic speed suit complete with arm sleeves and a headband designed to minimise drag. This ensemble enhances airflow around the body, enabling her to slice through the track with maximum efficiency.
2. FlyWeb Bra
She will also debut the FlyWeb Bra, a first-of-its-kind piece made with 3D-printed TPU material. According to Nike, it offers “a lightweight, soft feel and breathable, optimised moisture management,” providing both comfort and support without restricting movement vital when seconds matter.
3. Victory Elite FK Spikes
Perhaps the most symbolic piece is her custom Victory Elite FK spikes. A performance upgrade from the Nike Victory 2 spikes she wore during her Tokyo Olympic win, these shoes feature:
A taller, tuned forefoot Air Zoom unit for better propulsion
A lighter carbon outsole plate with six spikes
A new ultra-lightweight yarn upper for reduced weight
Each spike is stamped with “FK”, standing for Faith Kipyegon and Fastest Known, and speckled with gold flecks to honour her Olympic and World Championship triumphs.
While the spikes are expected to align with World Athletics' general regulations, a Nike spokesperson confirmed they had not been submitted for official approval, making the Breaking4 run ineligible for world record ratification.
The shoe approval process typically takes 30 days, and further adjustments may still be made.
Nonetheless, Kipyegon’s attempt is less about official status and more about pushing human limits. Similar to Kipchoge’s historic 1:59:40 run in Vienna, this event will feature rotating pacers and controlled conditions, engineered to give Kipyegon her best shot at breaking the mythic mark.
Supporting her case is a recent study in Royal Society Open Science, co-authored by US Olympian and biomechanics expert Shalaya Kipp, which estimates Kipyegon could clock a 3:59.37 under ideal conditions.
It is a theoretical time mirroring Roger Bannister’s iconic men’s sub-4-mile from 1954, but this time, it is about a woman shattering that ceiling.
In her 2023 world record mile (4:07.64), Kipyegon had minimal pacing assistance and had to finish the final lap alone. The Breaking4 event is designed to fill in those performance gaps.
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