A recent study suggests that Faith Kipyegon, the current women's world record holder for the mile, could run under four minutes by leveraging improved drafting techniques with pacesetters. This could mark a monumental shift in athletics, similar to Roger Bannister's historic feat in 1954. The researchers argue that achieving this benchmark could challenge existing perceptions and motivate additional women in the sport. While opinions are divided on the feasibility of this milestone, historical precedents indicate that female athletes frequently surpass perceived limits.
Nearly three-quarters of a century after Roger Bannister broke the four-minute mile barrier, scientists believe a woman could also achieve this historic milestone soon.
In 2023, Faith Kipyegon set the women’s world record at 4 minutes 7.64 seconds and could potentially run a mile in 3:59.37 this year.
The study suggests that breaking the four-minute barrier could inspire women worldwide, reinforcing the notion that limits in sports continue to be pushed.
Kram emphasized that while many doubted Bannister's achievement, breakthrough performances by women have repeatedly proven skeptics wrong, possibly opening doors to future records.
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