Faith Kipyegon, the three-time Olympic champion and current world record holder in the mile, failed to achieve the historic goal of running a sub-four-minute mile. At a special event in Paris called “Breaking Four,” Kipyegon ran the mile in 4:00.42, faster than her own world record of 4:01.64, but the result will not be recognized as the race was not official. Organizers used the latest Nike technology, including an aerodynamic suit and 13 pacemakers (11 men and 2 women) running ahead and behind her to reduce air resistance. Despite a strong start, Kipyegon began to fade halfway through and failed to shave the necessary 7.65 seconds off her record. On a hot evening with 25 degrees Celsius at the Charléty stadium in Paris, the 31-year-old Kenyan looked exhausted and collapsed on her back after the finish, surrounded by reporters. Among the spectators were the legendary Kenyan Carl Lewis and her friend and compatriot Eliud Kipchoge. The first man to run a sub-four-minute mile was British Roger Bannister back in 1954. Kipyegon won her third consecutive Olympic gold in the 1500 meters in Paris last year. Although history was not made, she promised to prepare better and hopes to be faster than light one day. This event sparked much attention and debate about how much technology and special conditions should influence the recognition of sports results. If you think this is just another tech gimmick or a true step forward in athletics, well, why not drop a comment and stir the pot a bit? Let’s see who’s really running the show here!
