American Muhammad in awe of Kipyegon's attempt at sub-four minute mile

BENGALURU :Kenyan Faith Kipyegon's bid to run a sub-four minute mile has stunned 2016 400m hurdles Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad, who believes this endeavour could redefine the parameters for women in sports.

Triple Olympic and world 1,500m champion Kipyegon is to attempt the first women's, unofficial sub-four minute mile in Nike's "Breaking 4" project.

The 31-year-old will attempt the feat on June 26 at Stade Charlety, Paris, where she broke her own 1,500m world record last year.

"I'm just amazed. I'm in awe. I saw that and I heard about it... I want to be there," said Muhammad, the International Event Ambassador for the TCS World 10K Bengaluru.

"That's just honestly hard for me to even put into words what that means for women in sports... For women to even attempt it, it's just honestly crazy.

"She's run, I think 4:07, which we were looking at as crazy. I'm just really, truly excited for where the bounds for women can go in the sport and to just hear a woman trying to break four minutes in my lifetime is amazing."

The 35-year-old Muhammad, who earlier this month announced that she will end her career after the 2025 season, believes age should not be a barrier for athletes to achieve their goals.

"For myself at 35, I feel almost better than ever. There's no slowing down. We have to do things a little bit differently, but it can get done," she said.

"I think if you have the will and the drive, it's definitely possible. So, at 31, that's amazing for her (Kipyegon)."

World Athletics are soon to introduce genetic testing for women to tighten eligibility rules, but Muhammad expressed concerns about the intrusive nature of the procedures and added that she needed more knowledge for an opinion.

"After hearing some women's stories