Faith Kipyegon: Eliud Kipchoge Writes Touching Letter To Runner Ahead of Breaking4 Mile Attempt
- Eliud Kipchoge has sent a powerful letter to Faith Kipyegon ahead of her Breaking4 attempt in Paris
- The Kenyan star is trying to make history by becoming the first woman to run the mile under four minutes
- Kipyegon holds the women's mile world record and could surpass a threshold that Roger Bannister broke in 1954
Eliud Kipchoge has written a beautiful letter to Faith Kipyegon ahead of her historic mile attempt in Paris on Thursday evening, June 26.
Source: Getty Images
How did Faith Kipyegon got to Breaking4?
Kipyegon has been competing at the highest level for over a decade, but she truly made her mark on the world stage in 2017 at the World Athletics Championships in London.
Since then, she has gone on to win two more world titles in the women’s 1500m, break the world record in the distance twice, and win three Olympic gold medals in the 1500m.
In 2023, she broke the women's mile world record, and on Thursday at the Stade Charléty in Paris, she is looking to become the first woman to run the mile under four minutes.
If she breaks the barrier, she will surely go down as arguably one of Kenya's greatest athletes.
“I’m a three-time Olympic champion. I’ve achieved World Championship titles. I thought, What else? Why not dream outside the box?” Kipyegon told Nike. “And I told myself, ‘If you believe in yourself, and your team believes in you, you can do it.’”
Can Faith Kipyegon break women's mile barrier?
The four-time world champion needs to shave off at least 7.65 seconds from her world record time of 4:07.64 to break a barrier Roger Bannister passed nearly 70 years ago.
Nike has assembled a team of world-class athletes as her pacemakers who will try and push her around the track.
The mile is slightly longer than the 1500m, her favourite race, meaning she will need to run a few seconds faster to break the record. Athletics fans are divided on whether she can achieve it.
Eliud Kipchoge fell short in his first attempt to break the 2-hour marathon barrier but succeeded in his second try. Can Kipyegon emulate her compatriot?
Source: Getty Images
What is Eliud Kipchoge's letter to Kipyegon?
Kipchoge has been supporting Kipyegon in her preparation for Breaking4 in Paris. The double Olympic champion and his coach are in France to support her.
Hours before the race, he penned a lovely letter and shared it on Instagram.
"You have dared to dream. You have dared to think. And now, you have dared to try to break the 4 minute mile. All the very best. Go for it."
She will join Kipchoge as the latest Kenyan to break a barrier that has never been broken before.
Why will Faith Kipyegon's mile attempt not be recognised?
Earlier, TUKO.co.ke reported that a potential world record by Faith Kipyegon won't be recognised.
The main reason is that it is not a competition but an exhibition event, which disqualifies the time recorded.
Moreover, Kipyegon will likely use rotating pacemakers, which is not allowed by World Athletics.
Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
