{"id":253399,"date":"2026-07-17T15:59:15","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:59:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/17\/josh-kerr-not-scared-of-failure-as-he-targets-one-mile-world-record-in-london\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T15:59:15","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T15:59:15","slug":"josh-kerr-not-scared-of-failure-as-he-targets-one-mile-world-record-in-london","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/07\/17\/josh-kerr-not-scared-of-failure-as-he-targets-one-mile-world-record-in-london\/","title":{"rendered":"Josh Kerr \u2018not scared of failure\u2019 as he targets one-mile world record in London"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A bullish Josh Kerr has insisted he is in the shape of his life and \u201cnot scared of failure\u201d as he attempts to break the one-mile world record at Saturday\u2019s London Diamond League.<\/p>\n

The former 1500m world champion<\/a> and double Olympic medallist has developed a reputation as an admirably straight\u2011talker throughout his career, unafraid to state his ambitions publicly. Few have ever been so lofty as the one that awaits this weekend, though, as he attempts to surpass the great Hicham El Guerrouj\u2019s one-mile mark of 3min 43.13sec that has stood since 1999. An entire generation of athletics fans were not even alive to see it happen.<\/p>\n

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With hopes of Keely Hodgkinson<\/a> potentially making her own tilt at the 800m world record fading after a tricky injury-troubled few weeks, Kerr has stood strong as the meet\u2019s fearless headline act. He is in no mood to let down what is close to being a sold-out 60,000 crowd.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m not a bettor, but it\u2019s in my favour for sure,\u201d said the 28-year-old Scot, with the kind of forthright confidence rarely seen in athletics. \u201cMy body is capable of the mark, so my job tomorrow is to have my mind available to let my body do it\u2019s job. I\u2019m very excited.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve had belief in myself for a long time. It\u2019s not something that is difficult for me. It was a dream for a long time, but I knew it could be reality for a long time. This isn\u2019t the first year that I\u2019ve felt in shape; this is the first moment I\u2019ve felt like I have an opportunity to go for something as fiercely as I wanted to. I haven\u2019t missed a day [of training]. What you will see out there tomorrow is all of me.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/svg><\/span>Josh Kerr won the 1500m at the 2023 world championships in Budapest.<\/span> Photograph: Ashley Landis\/AP<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As some of his team have pointed out to him, Kerr did not need to go about things the way he has. Few athletes would. It was back in March, before the outdoor season had even begun, that he announced his world record bid for this weekend \u2013 an attempt that he and his Brooks sponsor have dubbed \u201cProject 222\u201d, reflecting the number of seconds he requires to achieve his goal.<\/p>\n

The company have created custom spikes and a special aerodynamic race kit for the occasion, with Kerr documenting his training on YouTube and revealing the intricate lengths he has gone to in his bid for glory. Every day, he writes the words: \u201cI ran 3.42 at the London Diamond League. July 18th, 2026,\u201d in his notebook, while his ice bath sessions last precisely three minutes and 42 seconds.<\/p>\n

In a year lacking an Olympics or an outdoor world championships, Kerr has built his entire season around this one race, and he is unapologetic in wanting everyone to know it. \u201cWe are in a sport where we have to earn our media and earn our right to be on mainstream television,\u201d said Kerr, of a Diamond League meet that will be shown live on BBC One. \u201cTo do that, we have to give moments, we have to give reason.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor me, this wasn\u2019t an idea to hopefully save athletics but it is definitely a situation where \u2026 \u2018Why not?\u2019 Why not go after something like this in front of as many people as possible? It\u2019s been a really fun journey and I like challenging myself. I like goals that are lofty and I think this sport needs moments, and I was willing to give it.\u201d<\/p>\n

The presence of the United States\u2019 Olympic 1500m bronze medallist Yared Nuguse provides an intriguing subplot. Nuguse is the fourth-fastest miler in history, while Kerr sits sixth on that list, more than a second behind his rival. Could the American aid Kerr by pushing him to the line, or might he snatch the world record for himself?<\/p>\n

\u201cI think if people get it right, multiple people can break the world record,\u201d said Kerr. \u201cI wanted it to be a race, I opened it up and Yared fancied it.<\/p>\n

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