Breaking 4: Serena Williams' husband pledges Sh13 million in Faith Kipyegon's historic mile attempt

As Faith Kipyegon gears up for her boldest challenge yet, breaking the four-minute barrier in the women’s mile, support is pouring in from across the world, including a staggering KSh13 million ($100,000) pledge from Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian.

The Olympic and world champion is set to take on the ambitious “Breaking4” challenge in Paris’s Stade Charléty.

The event, organised by Nike, mirrors the iconic “Breaking2” marathon initiative and aims to push the limits of human athleticism once again, this time in the women’s mile.

Ohanian, who is multiple tennis Grand Slam champion Serena Williams's husband, announced that he would reward Kipyegon with $100,000 if she breaks the world record during tonight’s race, regardless of whether she clocks a sub-four time.

“We’ve got $100k on @kipyegon_faith to break the world record. And you better believe we’ll swiftly wire [just like for all our Athlos athletes at our record-breaking meet last year],” he posted.

We’ve got $100K on @Kipyegon_Faith to break the world record!! And you better believe we’ll swiftly wire (just like for all our Athlos athletes at our record-breaking meet last year) https://t.co/04wguhGpyr

— Alexis Ohanian ? (@alexisohanian) June 24, 2025

Ohanian, the founder of the Athlos initiative, a women-only athletics platform, doubled down on his support with a cheeky nod: “I’ve got Faith.”

Meanwhile, back in Kenya and now in Paris, Kipyegon’s long-time mentor and fellow Olympic legend Eliud Kipchoge expressed his admiration and encouragement in a heartfelt open letter.

“Dear Faith, you have dared to dream, you have dared to think, and now you have dared to break the 4-minute mile. All the best; go for it. Yours in sport, Eliud Kipchoge,” he wrote.

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A post shared by Eliud Kipchoge - EGH?? (@kipchogeeliud)

He also shared images of a recent morning jog with Faith in Paris and a warm embrace between the two champions, captioned, “We’ve got Faith.”

Kipyegon, already the world record holder in the mile at 4:07.64, must slash at least 7.65 seconds off her time to make history. This feat would not only break her own record but make her the first woman ever to run the mile in under four minutes, a milestone first achieved by Roger Bannister for men nearly 70 years ago.

Speaking ahead of the race, the soft-spoken Bomet native said the attempt is about more than just numbers:

“It's about being mentally strong and believing in everything you do… From running barefoot as a child to this moment, it’s all been about belief, strength, and inspiring the next generation.”

To aid in her pursuit, Nike has deployed elite pacemakers and strategic pacing technology to ensure optimal conditions. Since the mile is longer than her speciality, the 1500m, she’ll need to summon every ounce of speed, endurance, and grit to achieve the sub-four goal.

The global athletics community remains split on whether the record is within reach, but one thing is certain: tonight, Faith Kipyegon isn’t just chasing history. She’s redefining it.