Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has promised to pay runner Faith Kipyegon over £70k ahead of her record-breaking attempt. The three-time 1500m Olympic champion will aim to become the first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile on …

Serena Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian has promised to pay runner Faith Kipyegon over £70k ahead of her record-breaking attempt. The three-time 1500m Olympic champion will aim to become the first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile on …

 

 

Tech entrepreneur and Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has announced a bold incentive for Kenyan middle-distance legend Faith Kipyegon: a bonus of over £70,000 if she becomes the first woman in history to run a mile in under four minutes.

Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic gold medallist in the 1500m and the reigning world record holder in both the 1500m and mile events, is set to attempt the record-breaking feat at the upcoming Monaco Diamond League on July 12. The meet has become a favourite stage for fast times and world records—and now, thanks to Ohanian, the stakes are even higher.

Ohanian, who is married to tennis icon Serena Williams, made the announcement through social media, as part of his continued push to support and elevate female athletes through his venture, the 776 Foundation. The foundation focuses on creating equity in sports and providing athletes with tools—and sometimes financial incentives—to reach their full potential.

“If Faith Kipyegon breaks the 4-minute mile barrier, she’ll earn $90,000 from me,” Ohanian wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “She’s already one of the greatest runners of all time, but this would be historic. Let’s celebrate greatness when we see it.”

Kipyegon’s current world record in the mile stands at 4:07.64, set last year, also in Monaco. The time shattered the previous record by nearly five seconds, underlining her dominance in the event. Despite the apparent gap between her current best and the sub-four mark, analysts believe that with the right race conditions, competition, and pacing, she could come remarkably close.

In a statement ahead of the Monaco meet, Kipyegon welcomed the challenge.

“I’m very thankful for the encouragement and support,” she said. “Every time I step on the track, I want to push the limits—not just for myself, but for all women in sport. Breaking four minutes would be a dream.”

The sub-four-minute mile is considered one of the most iconic barriers in middle-distance running. British legend Roger Bannister famously broke the four-minute barrier in 1954—a moment that reshaped expectations in men’s athletics. But for women, the barrier has remained out of reach, largely due to a mix of physiological, social, and historical factors.

The women’s mile wasn’t even included in the Olympics until 1972, and investment in female distance runners has historically lagged behind. Efforts like Ohanian’s are aimed at changing that narrative.

Kipyegon, 30, has already cemented her place among the sport’s all-time greats, with multiple global titles and world records. But a sub-four-minute mile would elevate her into an entirely new realm of sporting history.

With just weeks to go until the Monaco Diamond League, anticipation is building. If Kipyegon succeeds, it won’t just be a win for her—but a milestone for women’s sport, and a moment that could inspire the next generation of record-breakers.