Faith Kipyegon Reflects on The Lessons She Learnt From Eliud Kipchoge as She Eyes Second Future ‘Breaking4’ Attempt

Eliud Kipchoge with Faith Kipyegon

Faith Kipyegon Reflects on The Lessons She Learnt From Eliud Kipchoge as She Eyes Second Future ‘Breaking4’ Attempt

Mark Kinyanjui 19:40 - 28.06.2025

Eliud Kipchoge tried more than once to finally break the sub-two hour barrier, something inspiring Faith Kipyegon after her heartbreak in Paris earlier this week.

In the city where she made history just a year ago,  Faith Kipyegon returned to Paris for another audacious mission—attempting to become the first woman to break the four-minute mile barrier.

 Though she narrowly missed the mark, the Kenyan middle-distance queen emerged from the race not in disappointment, but in deep reflection and renewed resolve.

Speaking to after the event, Kipyegon credited marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge as a guiding inspiration in her mindset and approach.

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Kipchoge’s Sub-Two Hour Marathon Challenge

Faith Kipyegon Reflects on The Lessons She Learnt From Eliud Kipchoge as She Eyes Second Future ‘Breaking4’ Attempt
Faith Kipyegon

Most people remember Kipchoge’s famous and successful attempt to become the first human being to run the full 42-kilometer marathon in under two hours back in 2019, which he was successfully able to do.

However, it was his second attempt, with the first one being in Monza in 2018 when he narrowly missed out and vowed to attempt it again.

Now, Kipyegon is borrowing lessons from the veteran runner as she eyes another attempt at running sub-four in future.

“I take this from my mentor, Eliud Kipchoge,” she said. “The first time he tried to break two hours in the marathon, he didn’t succeed in Monza.

“ But in Vienna, he made it—1:59. It’s a lesson. You learn from the process, the mistakes. That’s exactly what today was for me—a learning experience.”

Kipyegon, the reigning world record holder in the 1,500 m (and a previous one in the 5,000 m), is already regarded as one of the greatest female distance runners of all time. 

But her desire to stretch boundaries and redefine what’s possible continues to drive her. The attempt to crack the mythical four-minute mile was her most daring feat yet—and she believes it’s far from over.

“I wanted to try and see how fast I could go. And I think there’s more in the tank,” she said. “Today reminded me that we have to dare to chase what we dream of. I’m proud of myself.”

Kipyegon: Why Paris Has Special Place in My Heart

Faith Kipyegon Reflects on The Lessons She Learnt From Eliud Kipchoge as She Eyes Second Future ‘Breaking4’ Attempt
Faith Kipyegon on lessons learnt

The choice of Paris for this challenge was no coincidence. In 2023, she broke the 5,000 m world record on the same track just a week after her historic 1,500 m record in Florence. Paris, she says, feels like her “second home.”

“This stadium is special. I love Paris. This is where I made history, and I’ll always cherish it,” Kipyegon said.

Kipyegon’s plans for Tokyo and Beyond

As the track and field world turns its attention toward the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo this September, Kipyegon’s focus now shifts to that next major stage. But she made it clear that another attempt at “Breaking4” remains firmly on the horizon.

“This was the biggest challenge I had planned for this year. Now, I’m preparing for Tokyo. But yes, I’ll try again,” she smiled. “Great things are still to come.”

With her characteristic humility, grit, and ambition, Faith Kipyegon continues to lead not just on the stopwatch—but by example. And as with Kipchoge before her, it may only be a matter of time before she rewrites the limits once again.