Faith Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1500 meters and former world record holder for the mile with a time of 4:07.64, embarked on a historic attempt in Paris, France, at Stade Sébastien Charléty. Her audacious goal was to achieve what no woman had before: run a mile in under four minutes. This endeavor, dubbed 'Breaking4' by Nike, aimed to challenge the long-held belief, even among some scientists, that a sub-four-minute mile for women was an impossibility.

Despite a valiant effort in front of an enthusiastic crowd, and with her mentor Eliud Kipchoge holding the finish line tape, Kipyegon crossed the line with a time of 4:06.42. While she did not break the sub-four-minute barrier, she successfully shaved over a second off her own world record. Kipyegon, though tired, expressed gratitude and conviction that a sub-four-minute mile remains within reach for women, reiterating her motto: “You dare to try.”

The significance of Kipyegon's attempt extends beyond the clock. Roger Bannister first broke the sub-four-minute mile in 1954, at a time when women were not even permitted to run the distance in the Olympics. It took until 1972 for the Olympics to include a 1500-meter race for women. Since Bannister’s achievement, nearly 2,000 men have followed suit, demonstrating the powerful psychological impact of knowing a goal is achievable. Kipyegon’s public pursuit, even without immediate success, offers a similar psychological boost for future female athletes, emphasizing the mental aspect of such physical feats. Her message to young girls, including her daughter, Alyn, is to “not limit themselves” and to “dream and make their dreams valid.”

Nike played a pivotal role in supporting Kipyegon’s quest, investing nearly a year in developing innovative gear specifically designed to enhance her performance. This collaboration, featuring Amy Jones Vateralus, Vice President of Women’s Research at Nike Sport Research Lab, and Janett Nichol, Vice President of Innovation at Nike, focused on optimizing every minute detail for speed. Nike's team traveled to Kenya for testing and feedback, with Kipyegon also visiting Nike HQ.

The specialized kit included the lightweight Fly Suit, a one-piece garment with a headband and arm/leg sleeves, crafted from proprietary material to minimize air resistance. Strategically placed nodes, the size of a pencil tip, were integrated into the suit to disrupt airflow and reduce drag. Kipyegon also wore a 3D-printed sports bra made from FlyWeb, a thermoplastic polyurethane material. This innovative bra was designed to minimize moisture retention and heat buildup, offering support while being lighter in less critical areas. Kipyegon's comfort and continued use of the bra during training affirmed its effectiveness.

For footwear, designers created the Nike Victory Elite FK (standing for Faith Kipyegon or “fastest known”), an evolution of the Nike Victory 2s in which she set previous records. Prioritizing lightness and performance for a single mile, the shoes weighed less than 90 grams, featured a yarn material for a secure fit, six custom-made titanium pins for traction, a full-length carbon fiber plate, and a ZoomX foam midsole for energy return and efficiency. While Kipyegon’s exact kit is not commercially available, Nike offers Breaking4-inspired gear, often in Kipyegon’s favorite color, purple, to help other runners pursue their personal bests.

The 'Breaking4' event significantly increased media coverage for women’s sports, normalized women's competition at all levels, and contributed to a growing body of scientific research on female athletes. Although one of the authors of a study predicting Kipyegon could achieve a sub-four-minute time expressed disappointment with the outcome, Kipyegon's resilient spirit and belief that the fight for a sub-four-minute mile is not over for women, continues to inspire a new generation of runners to dream big.