On 26 June 2025, Faith Kipyegon will attempt to become the first woman to run a sub-four minute mile.
The Breaking4 time trial will take place in Paris and as Kipyegon’s ‘moonshot’ attempt won’t count as an official world record, Nike can break the rules to make history.
They can forget commercial considerations in the kit, they can make one-off pairs of shoes and custom clothing, they can call in the world’s best pacers, and do everything possible to optimise for speed.
Now Nike has revealed the new and bespoke speed system that Kipyegon will be wearing in Breaking4.
NIKE VICTORY ELITE FK SPIKE
Kipyegon will run in a pair of custom Nike Victory Elite FK spikes, named FK after Faith Kipyegon, and Fastest Known.
The spike is evolved from Nike’s Victory 2 track spike which Kipyegon has seen much success in, including Olympic gold in Paris in 2024, and the one mile world record in 2023.
The Nike Victory Elite FK:
Weighs only 85g (25% lighter than the Victory 2)
Features the tallest airpods in a Nike track spike (3mm taller than the Victory 2 airpods)
The airpods will give Kipyegon around 90% energy return
The upper weighs just 3g – the designers were able to use fabric that’s not practical in a commercial shoe as this one only needs to last for one mile.
The spike has a very thin carbon sole which holds six titanium pins.
A BESPOKE FLYSUIT WITH AERONODES
Kipyegon will wear a sleeveless one-piece FlySuit speedsuit. It covers her torso and thighs down to just about the knee, plus she’ll wear arm sleeves, leg sleeves and a headband, all made from lighter material than the Flysuit.
The speedsuit is designed with 3D half-dome shaped ‘Aeronodes’ to optimise aerodynamics around the body, with some areas slick and others intended to create turbulence, all while being stretchy to perfectly conform to the body running at sub-four speed.
In working the configuration and optimisation of the Aeronodes, the Nike team put their designs through digital simulations then tests in a wind tunnel and then on the track.
3D PRINTED FLYWEB BRA
Kipyegon will be the first person to ever wear the Nike FlyWeb bra.
Unlike knitted or woven material typically used in sportswear, FlyWeb is a 3D printed TPU material – a pliable polymer – which is lightweight, breathable and soft, and won’t absorb sweat. Its support comes from greater material density in certain areas.
These material milestones are all designed to help Faith Kipyegon run eight seconds faster than she’s ever run one mile before.
THE FUTURE OF FAST
All of this kit is specifically optimised for Faith Kipyegon, but having done the research and the testing Nike can see what of this can be developed for consumer retail.
This is Nike showing us the running tech of the future, and the focus of their research into optimising performance. This is where running is going in years to come, and many of these developments could become commercially available in different forms.
Until then, for Breaking4 they don’t need to worry about durability because it needs to last for four minutes. They don’t need to worry about cost or making something that makes a million dollars in retail. They can fully focus on creating the perfect circumstances for Faith Kipyegon to run a historic mile.
THE KIPYEGON COLLECTION
Some new kit will be available to coincide with Kipyegon’s Breaking4 attempt and she’s partnered with Nike on the Kipyegon Collection of shoes and apparel in striking black and purple designs. The Pegasus lines, Alphafly 3 and Victory 2 track spikes will all be available in the Kipyegon colourway.
All images from Nike
