American journalist slammed for absurd Faith Kipyegon question

Kenyan distance running legend Faith Kipyegon has accomplished nearly everything imaginable on the track—and yet, she continues to break records. On Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, she lowered her own world record in the women’s 1,500m to 3:48.68, becoming the first athlete to run sub-3:49—just as she was the first to break 3:50 two years earlier.

Despite being widely regarded as the greatest female middle-distance runner in history, Kipyegon was asked an absurd and off-base question by an unidentified American journalist. “Hey Faith, you’re 5’2″. Could any man the same height beat you in a mile?”

World Record for the worst question ever asked in a mixed zone? #PreClassic pic.twitter.com/YGg3P3wLjE

— Mac Fleet (@macfleet) July 6, 2025

It’s the kind of question you might expect from a seven-year-old child, not an accredited adult journalist. The internet reacted quickly, and track and field fans on X were equally stunned by it:

“I didn’t know you could combine misogyny and heightism in one question,” one X user wrote. “What kind of answer are you even hoping for from a question like this?”

American human performance expert Brady Holmer chimed in, saying the video clip “makes his ears bleed.” Track journalist and CitiusMag founder Chris Chavez summed it up beautifully: “Sir, this is a Wendy’s.”—a meme phrase often used to mock questions or comments that are wildly out of left field.

WORLD RECORD – 3:48.68 🥹🇰🇪

In life, many times things come to you in an indirect way. Last week we dared to try. This week, I was able to break the 1500m world record & win my 7th @preclassic, a night to remember ❤️

Thank you all for the best support, Hayward is true magic 🪄 pic.twitter.com/7Ou86TjGjJ

— Faith Kipyegon, EGH🇰🇪 (@Kipyegon_Faith) July 6, 2025

Kipyegon, ever composed, handled it like the champion she is—smiling, laughing and walking away. Thankfully, the media liaison quickly stepped in to say we are done here, before it could get more uncomfortable.

Kipyegon to challenge another world record

It’s been a busy two weeks for the three-time Olympic gold medallist. After clocking a 4:06.42 mile at the Nike Breaking4 event in France (not eligible for a world record due to controlled pacing and conditions), she returned to competition just nine days later in Eugene, where she smashed her own 1,500m world record for the second straight season.

Now, Kipyegon has set her sights on one of the sport’s most challenging marks: the women’s 3,000m world record, set by China’s Wang Junxia in 1993 with a time of 8:06.11. Kipyegon will attempt it at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Aug. 16.

Wang’s record has stood for nearly 32 years—longer than Kipyegon has been alive. It’s worth noting that in 2016, World Athletics investigated a letter alleging state-sponsored doping in 1990s China, which included Wang and other athletes coached by Ma Junren, who were reportedly forced to take banned substances.

Kipyegon’s current personal best over 3,000m is 8:23.55, set in 2014 when she was just 20.