On Thursday, June 26th, at precisely 8pm in Paris, the world will pause — and so will millions of screens across homes in Kenya — as Olympic champ Faith Kipyegon takes her mark to chase history once more. 

Safaricom PLC has unveiled a special 4GB YouTube bundle for just KES4, ensuring that every Kenyan, from the highlands of Iten to the bustling streets of Nairobi, can watch their icon attempt the near-mythical feat of running a mile in under four minutes.

With just a few taps on *544#, fans can unlock a front-row seat to greatness. Safaricom said the the move is a celebration of national pride, athletic brilliance, and the enduring partnership between Kenya’s fastest woman and one of its most innovative brands. 

Officially known as “Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile,” the Paris event is a project backed by sports multinational Nike that’s been in the works since 2023, and includes numerous aspects of athletic performance development.

From lighting up the KICC with her image in 2023 to naming her the face of the 2024 “Sisi Wote Ni Mabingwa” campaign, Safaricom’s support for Faith Kipyegon reflects championing excellence, together.

“Faith Kipyegon represents the very best of Kenya’s resilience, ambition, and world-class excellence. She aims to make history once again by becoming the first woman in the world to run a mile in under four minutes. We are proud to stand with her and rally the entire country to support her,” said Dr. Peter Ndegwa, CEO, Safaricom PLC.

Kipyegon is the current world record holder in the 1500m and 5000m categories, having made history at the Florence and Paris Diamond League events, respectively. If she succeeds, she will become the first woman in history to run a mile in under four minutes.

In addition to the YouTube offer, Safaricom will also screen the race live at Baniyas Square in Eldoret City for fans to watch the race. Kenyans are being urged to share their messages of support for Faith as she attempts to break the sub-4-minute mile record, using #KenyaForFaith on their social media platforms.

According to Nike, Faith will be receiving support similar to what marathon great Eliud Kipchoge received in 2019 when he set 1:59 record time for a marathon in Vienna. Nike said Faith will put on a custom pair of featherweight Victory Elite FK spikes, an innovative, first-of-its-kind speed suit, and a sports bra made of a revolutionary 3D-printed performance material.

“If she crosses the line in under 4 minutes, it won’t just be a new world record,” said Carrie Dimoff, the Nike Footwear Lead on the Breaking4 team. “It’ll be a new understanding of what’s possible for women in sport.”

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