The sky is the limit for Jimmy Gressier setting a new 5km European Record

True to his northern roots, Gressier chose Lille, the birthplace of KIPRUN, to rewrite his own history. While battling a stacked field for 12:51, Gressier was not alone. He was carried by the energy of a fully supportive crowd. 

“Setting a new European record here in Lille, in front of my family and close friends, is hard to put into words. It’s another step in my pursuit of excellence. This year, with KIPRUN, we’ve fine-tuned everything to find each and every marginal gain. Every second counts. That’s what makes the difference between a great international performance and a record,” he said after the race.

Already the first European ever to break the 13-minute barrier on the road with his 12:57 run in 2025, Gressier now pushes that mark even further. But this European record is not a finish line. It’s another step in a longer journey he shares with KIPRUN, with one clear focus ahead: the 2028 Olympic Games.

During his 2025 European record, Jimmy Gressier was already pushing the limits of what had been achieved by a European over the distance. Improving on that mark meant chasing marginal gains: shaving off just a few seconds. Small on paper, but decisive at this level.

To help go beyond his own benchmark, KIPRUN worked closely with Gressier to co-develop a bespoke aerodynamic race kit. Built from carefully selected technical components chosen for their low-drag properties, the system is designed to reduce the resistance generated by his running form. It was precisely tailored using a full 3D scan of his body and tested in a wind tunnel under conditions and speeds replicating those of a record-level performance.

This highly controlled, science-led approach turns the kit into a genuine performance tool, delivering the marginal gains needed to make a difference.

“At this level, performance comes down to details,” says Robin Saint Ghislain, textile engineer at KIPRUN. “The goal was to turn apparel into a performance tool. A system designed to help Jimmy unlock the final percentages that separate a great race from a new record.”

KIPRUN is DECATHLON’s expert running and trail brand founded in 2008. We believe that in running, as in life, the journey matters more than the destination. Our mission is to help everyone keep running by democratizing high-performance solutions to run for life. Working closely with world-class athletes, we develop products and services that combine performance, fair pricing, durability, and products that are built to move and evolve in harmony with everyday runners. That’s how we stand by runners - to keep them running, growing, and living more fully through every run.