Faith Kipyegon wins hearts despite agonisingly missing out on mile record
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 26.06.25. | 21:29
Despite the heartbreak, the Olympic champion gave everything in a performance that electrified fans around the globe
Triple Olympic 1500m gold medalist Faith Kipyegon narrowly missed the sub-four-minute mile record after running 4:06:42 in a race staged at the Stade Sebastian Charlety on Thursday, 26 June in Paris, France.
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Despite the heartbreak, the Olympic champion gave everything in a performance that electrified fans around the globe.
Held under the lights in front of a packed stadium, the race was preceded by a high-octane pre-show that matched the magnitude of the moment.
Award-winning sports journalist MJ Acosta-Ruiz led a star-studded panel featuring Olympic 800m silver medallist Keely Hodgkinson, legendary nine-time Olympic champion Carl Lewis, and Diljeet Taylor, the 2024 NCAA Coach of the Year and Nike Swoosh program coach.
Together, they broke down what it would take for Kipyegon to achieve the unthinkable.
A special video played to the crowd, showing Kipyegon's source of motivation: her roots, her family, her faith, and the cutting-edge gear designed specifically for this attempt.
The emotional build-up continued with appearances from her revered coach, Patrick Sang, and her training partner Eliud Kipchoge, the only man to run a marathon in under two hours.
Both shared heartfelt messages and unwavering belief in Kipyegon’s ability to push the limits of human performance.
Exactly 15 minutes to go, the pacemakers were introduced, 13 in total, dressed in purple vests, Kipyegon's lucky and symbolic colour of faith.
Among them were two women and eleven men, all ready to form the moving shield that would help guide her into the record books.
Then came the moment the crowd had been waiting for. Kipyegon stepped onto the track, beaming, calm, and confident.
As she approached the start line, she exchanged high-fives with each of her pacemakers as they headed for the start line.
When the gun finally went off, the stadium held its breath.
The pace lights, synced to sub-four timing, flickered along the rail. Kipyegon held steady in the early laps, her stride smooth, her breathing composed.
Her pacemakers, in perfect diamond formation, shielded her from the wind and kept the rhythm alive.
By the halfway mark, the clock read two minutes, and she was still in the race, still chasing the dream.
As the bell rang for the final lap, Kipyegon dug deep. The green light was still on, flickering just ahead, now beckoning rather than guiding.
This was her moment to push through pain and history. She surged forward, giving everything, but ultimately crossed in 4:06.42, just a whisper away from breaking the four-minute barrier.
