Nike has issued a statement following accusations that it misrepresented Faith Kipyegon’s sub-4 minute mile attempt during its much-publicized “Breaking4” event in Paris last week.
The Kenyan distance running icon had set out to achieve one of the most elusive milestones in athletics history, becoming the first woman to complete a mile in under four minutes.
Competing at Stade Sébastien Charléty, the 31-year-old delivered a breathtaking performance, ultimately crossing the finish line in 4:06.91. While the time was good enough to surpass her own world record of 4:07.64 set in 2023, it still fell shy of the sub-4 goal and would not count officially as it didn’t adhere to strict competition rules.
However, confusion set in moments later when broadcaster Paul Swangard announced Faith Kipyegon’s official time as 4:06.42, nearly half a second faster than what had initially appeared on the stadium clock. The discrepancy sparked immediate debate online, with some fans accusing Nike of manipulating the results to enhance the optics of their event.
In response to inquiries from Runner’s World, Nike clarified the situation with a detailed statement explaining the difference in timing.
“Breaking4 was always about redefining the limits of human potential and it resulted in a breakthrough moment in athletic performance,” the company stated.
“For us, the achievement was proving what’s possible when athletes, science, and innovation come together.”
Nike went on to explain that the faster time recorded for Faith Kipyegon was based on what they termed ‘movement time’, the precise moment she initiated her first motion, tracked using high-resolution photo-finish camera technology. This, they noted, differs from traditional ‘gun time,’ which starts the clock at the sound of the starting gun.
“Every frame was tracked using high-resolution photo-finish camera technology to ensure accuracy,” Nike said.
“Every element of Breaking4 was guided by rigorous scientific analysis and independently validated by third-party experts.”
The clarification did little to quell skepticism among some fans, who took to social media platforms like Reddit to question Nike’s motives.
One user pointed out that standard athletics competitions rely on gun time for official records, suggesting Nike’s choice to highlight a faster ‘movement time’ gave the appearance of a performance closer to the sub-4 barrier than it actually was.
They wrote: “It’s clever framing. The original time on the stadium clock was the official gun time — what counts in athletics. The faster time they announced was from the moment Faith physically moved, which isn’t how races are typically timed. It’s marketing dressed as a sporting milestone.”
While the debate continues, there’s no denying that Kipyegon’s performance remains an extraordinary achievement. Whether or not Nike’s explanation satisfies the critics, the race has reignited interest in the long-standing quest for a sub-4 minute mile in women’s athletics.