Patrick Sang Admits Concern for Faith Kipyegon's Mental State Following Breaking4 Attempt

Patrick Sang has reflected on Faith Kipyegon’s Breaking4 attempt, admitting he had concerns about her mindset after the race but was later reassured by her strong response.

Patrick Sang, coach to Faith Kipyegon and Eliud Kipchoge, has spoken candidly about the Breaking4 attempt, reflecting on both its successes and the challenges faced along the way.

In the project, Faith Kipyegon was attempting to become the first woman ever to run a mile in less than four minutes.

Faith Kipyegon already held the official women’s mile world record of 4:07.64, set in 2023, and her target meant a staggering improvement of over 7 seconds.

Backed by her sponsor Nike, the attempt featured everything from elite pacemakers and advanced aerodynamics to custom-designed spikes and suits built for maximum speed. The event took place at the Stade Sébastien Charléty in Paris on June 26, 2025.

Faith Kipyegon finished with a time of 4:06.42, shaving off more than a second from her previous record but still missing the four-minute barrier.

Patrick Sang: I Am Sure Psychologically, I Was a Bit Worried for Faith Kipyegon

Patrick Sang reflected that both Faith Kipyegon and Eliud Kipchoge share strikingly similar qualities, from their outlook on the sport to how they perceive themselves and value their support systems.

Sang noted that the two athletes mirror each other in discipline, humility, and the way they draw strength from those around them.

Speaking about the Breaking4 project, Patrick Sang said it unfolded positively overall, even though a few minor challenges arose along the way.

He observed that while not everything was within their control, the experience was largely smooth and well-executed. The process, in his view, flowed naturally from the careful preparation that had gone into it.

Looking back, Sang felt satisfied with how everything came together, describing the entire journey as one that reflected the unity, effort, and shared purpose behind the project.

“But in the case of Faith, it was a bit different. Of course, the person did not change. Circumstances were not as well worked out as the other one,” Patrick Sang said in an interview on Citius Mag.

“Given another opportunity, I think it's possible to make some amendments. The ultimate call for the two cases is that they allowed people to think that our imaginations can be expanded, that the human mind and possibilities are elastic.

“We saw a few days later in Eugene that Faith was able to run the world record, which means that what we did technically, and all the support that went into the preparation for breaking four, did not go in vain.”

Patrick Sang admitted that after the Paris race, he had some concerns about Faith Kipyegon’s mental state. Though he had not directly discussed the experience with her, he sensed from her body language that something about the race had not gone as smoothly as it could have.

He was not certain whether it was an issue of timing, preparation, or the overall setup, but it was clear to him that some aspects could have been improved.

Still, Patrick Sang maintained that, from a technical standpoint, everything had been done correctly. What concerned him most was how Faith Kipyegon would process the experience, whether she would carry it as a setback or transform it into motivation.

Fortunately, her performance in Eugene reassured him, restoring balance and confidence. That result, he felt, allowed her to regain momentum and finish the season strongly.

“So, it's still possible. I'm sure psychologically I was a bit worried for Faith in Paris because I think I have not talked to her about the whole episode, but you could see facially the body language that it could have been better. What could have been better? Is it a time? Is it the preparation or is it the whole setup? I don't know,” he added.

“But you could see from the facial expression that something could have been done better. But I believe technically, we did everything right. What I was worried about between Eugene and Paris is the mental state of Faith, whether she was going to internalise it negatively or positively.”

Faith Kipyegon went on to defend her 1500m world title at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, before claiming a silver medal in the 5000m behind best friend Beatrice Chebet.