Faith Kipyegon stepped into the unknown, in a bid to make history for herself and women athletics. The double Olympic and World 1500m champion had attempted to become the first woman to ever run the mile in under four minutes, in an audacious project nicknamed ‘Breaking 4’ powered by her apparel sponsors Nike.
She was following in the footsteps of her training partner and icon Eliud Kipchoge, who attempted, and succeeded, in becoming the first man to ever run a marathon in under two hours.
Driven by passion, hunger and desire, Kipyegon had the massive task of wiping off 7.64 seconds from her own world record. The time looked easy on paper, but on the track, it was a huge task, and a brave decision.
She had to run each and every lap in a personal best time, all in under a minute. She tried, and came very close, running four minutes, 6.42seconds.
Despite not achieving her sub-four target, Kipyegon’s attempt inspired the athletics world; just her bravery to go for it and cut off such a massive time from her personal best required grit and determination.
And it worked perfectly well for her; just a few days after the breaking four project in Paris, she travelled to Eugene, United States, for the Prefontaine Classic, a leg of the Diamond League, where she ran a new 1500m world record.
She clocked 3:46.68, breaking her own mark for the third time in less than three years. She might have missed her mark at breaking four, but the attempt itself has inspired her towards success in her career.
Kipyegon speaks exclusively to Telecomasia.net on her journey to Breaking Four, what it means to her and women athletes, and how it has inspired her moving forward.
- Just how inspiring was it for you to run Breaking Four?
- It was really inspiring for me because I wanted to send a message to the world that everything is possible and we only limit ourselves through our minds. We can always go out, push our limits and do our best and I wanted to inspire the next generation of athletes. It was about giving hope that everything is possible.
- You set a new world record in Eugene just days after Breaking Four. Was it a case of inspiration or your body was still in peak performance shape?
- It was a bit of both but more of motivation. I told myself that if I crossed the 1500m mark in under 3:48 in Paris, why couldn’t I do it in Eugene? That really motivated me travelling to the United States. I went there with a determined mind to run my new personal best time in the 1500m and that would mean a world record. It felt so special, maybe a bit more than the other two because I was coming off a huge historic run and I was capping it off with a new personal best time.
- In Eugene it was massive for you, not just with the world record but just how people received you. Has the Breaking 4 project changed how people look at you?
- Yes absolutely. It was really amazing and it has opened doors for me and put me up there. I am now known and recognized by so many people and I now have very many fans. It feels amazing. When I was going to start my race in Eugene and I was introduced, the crowd went wild and it was really special to hear such a massive applaud. Even now, everywhere I walk, people recognize me and congratulate me. The project has really put me out there to the rest of the world and it is a great thing.
- How much has breaking four and that World Record motivated you for the World Championships?
- In a big way definitely. It has really improved my mentality and mindset and my focus is sharper. Even physically I now feel better and ready.
- Will you double just like you did in Paris at the Olympic Games?
- Yes, I am planning to double again in Tokyo doing both the 1500m and the 5,000m. I feel great, I feel in good shape and definitely I am going for both medals. It is now just about the right training with focus and getting my mind there. It is all about being self-aware and training well and on that day, whoever will be in the best of shape will win and we will celebrate each other. In sport you either win or lose.
- The 5,000m will once again see a close battle with your very close friend Beatrice Chebet. How do you look at this noting that the two of you each set a world record recently, with Beatrice now owning the 5,000m record?
- It will be so interesting competing with her. I expect a very competitive race with Beatrice, there’s also Agnes (Jebet) and the rest. We know each other well and we are all in very good shape. We are really close with Beatrice and that is why we always motivate each other. In Eugene I was cheering her up and she was also cheering me up. Even before the race we spoke and said let us go for it. Being together makes us stronger because apart from being athletes, we need each other outside and we push each other to get better. I can’t wait to compete with her in Tokyo in the 5,000m.
- Your close friend, mentor and training partner Eliud Kipchoge also had two attemps in the marathon, to make history. Does his journey inspire you?
- Absolutely yes. If you look at Eliud, he didn’t get the time in his first attempt, Breaking Two. However, when he went in for a second time, he got it and that really inspires me. Even though I didn’t get the time in my first attempt, I know I will get it some day. I will not lose hope. I will keep trying, I will keep pushing myself to what I know I am capable of doing in the mile. I will not lose hope.
- Finally, your next race is in the 3,000m at the Diamond League. Another world record maybe?
- Aaaah not really on my mind. It will be a mid-race for me just trying to test both my speed and endurance so I am not thinking about a world record honestly. I just want to go there, enjoy myself and maybe run a personal best time. This will be the second time this season I will be running the race so I will look to make an improvement.
