Faith Kipyegon, one of the most accomplished middle-distance runners in history, is getting ready for a high-profile attempt to break the four-minute barrier in the women’s mile, a feat never before achieved. Backing her in this effort is a set of custom-designed apparel from Nike, including a next-gen 3D-printed sports bra that represents a revolutionary departure from conventional performance wear.
The bra, called FlyWeb, is made using a 3D printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material and is the result of many years of research and development by Nike’s innovation team. The goal was to offer a solution that is lightweight, breathable, and supportive, and – most importantly – is able to address key issues in traditional sports bras, such as moisture retention and thermal burden. “Sports bras have never looked or felt like this before,” Janett Nichol, Nike’s Vice President of Apparel Innovation, said in a press release. “The material is soft, light and incredibly supportive, yet it also feels like you’re not wearing anything at all”.
The FlyWeb bra is part of Nike’s Breaking4 kit, developed specifically to support Kipyegon’s attempt. The full system includes an aerodynamic one-piece Fly Suit embedded with 3D printed Aeronodes aiming to reduce drag, along with custom racing spikes that use lightweight foams and carbon-fiber plates. The concept of the entire gear is to work together as an integrated system to optimize every fraction of performance.
According to The New York Times, Nike’s six-person innovation team drew lessons from its 2017 Breaking2 marathon project to model airflow and test performance enhancements across simulations, wind tunnels, and track sessions. While the upcoming event will not be eligible for world record ratification due to its use of rotating pacemakers, Nike views the project as a broader innovation effort. “This is a true unlock, not just for bras but for how we design and build high-performance apparel going forward,” Nichol said.
Faith Kipyegon is set to make the attempt in Paris this Thursday, targeting a time under her current world record of 4:07.64 – potentially making history in the process.
