In the past year, Sam Ruthe signed a Nike deal, set world records and had the chance to compete across the globe. Photo / Andrew Cornaga
He is the youngest person in the world to break the four-minute mile at just 15 years old but, to Sam Ruthe, “it’s just running”.
He was described by the NZ Herald in March as New Zealand’s middle-distance running prodigy, and the now 16-year-old has become the 49th New Zealander to break the milestone target at Go Media Stadium on March 19.
Sam became the youngest person in history to beat a four-minute mile (about 1.6km) with a time of 3m 58.35s.
“I guess I didn’t really understand that what I was doing was different to other people until things went a bit crazy after I broke the four-minute mile,” he said.
In the past year, running has brought Sam a Nike deal, national records, world records and the chance to compete across the globe – from Los Angeles to Tokyo.
“The media, international opportunities and the world really opened up after that [four-minute mile record].”
He signed with Nike in April and shared on Instagram that it was an “honour to be part of such a legendary brand”.
“I’m looking forward to what’s ahead as part of the Nike family,” the post read.
The Year 11 Tauranga Boys’ College student told the Bay of Plenty Times about the very first time he started running somewhat competitively.
“I was 5 years old and in my first three weeks at Pillans Point School in the school running race.”
He said he remembered loving it but also getting beaten by some of the other kids.
“I have always really enjoyed running, and I’m lucky that hasn’t really changed since.”
As a college student, with a couple of years still ahead of him, Sam said it was quite hard managing school and travel.
“It’s mainly because all of the fastest times in the world are run in the opposite hemisphere and in the opposite season.”
Before breaking the four-minute mile, Sam first broke the 15-year-old world best for 3000m in November 2024, then lowered it twice more – running 7m 56.18s in February 2025.
That victory also made him the youngest senior national champion in any event.
He was 15, and the next youngest was 21.
At the New Zealand Track and Field Championships in Dunedin a month later, he tied with two-time Olympian Sam Tanner in the 1500m senior final.
Their 3m 44.31s dead-heat was unprecedented in national history.
“‘It’s just running’ is something my Nan says a bit, and I think that kind of sums it [a record] up. I’m pretty relaxed about those things.”
In July 2025, he continued rewriting the history books, some would say he is making a habit of it.
He lowered his own national Under-17 and U18 1500m records and ran his first sub-3m 40s race in the process, Athletics New Zealand reported.
Sam raced in the Sound Running Sunset Tour Men’s 1500m in Los Angeles and finished fifth with a time of 3m 49.17s.
“I know what I can control and that I can trust my coach [Craig Kirkwood] to execute my plan, and that is enough, whatever the result.”
His time also came within 0.4s of Sam Tanner’s U19 and U20 New Zealand records.
It came a week after he ran another sub-4m mile at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
“My ultimate goal is to get international wins against the best in the world, and I know there is a lot of work to do to get there.”
Sam told the Bay of Plenty Times in September that there were three world records for 16-year-olds he wanted to break.
“The NZ Secondary Schools record for 1500m has stood for 39 years, so I’d like to see if I could try and get that.”
And that he did.
Sam broke the New Zealand secondary schools’ 1500m record on December 6, stopping the clock at 3min 38.62sec in a semi-final at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships.
He beat the previous mark, set by former Commonwealth Games runner Richard Potts in 1989, by eight seconds.
A day later, on December 7, he set a new 800m record with a time of 1m 46.81s in the final at the New Zealand Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships.
The teen has running in his genes.
Sam’s grandma Rosemary Wright (nee Stirling) was a champion 400m relay sprinter and 800m Commonwealth Games gold medallist in 1970.
Father Ben Ruthe is a former national record holder over 800m and 1000m, while mum Jess held national cross-country titles.
Ben Ruthe said his son had loved running from a young age.
“I remember him running laps of the tent at Ohope Beach when he wasn’t even 2; he just ran around and around and loved it right away.”
Ruthe said in the early days, Sam had a “float to his run”, where runners maintain a fast but relaxed pace during a run, which he said was rare from the start.
“It’s partly because of that we didn’t let him train until he was 13.”
Ruthe said both he and Sam’s mum, Jess, felt fortunate they could help Sam on the path he had chosen.
“It’s something special to be able to understand his sport. He’s just a genuinely enjoyable person to spend time with, and it’s a privilege to help him.”
Ruthe said he didn’t think anyone in the world could do what Sam had done.
“I wouldn’t have believed it if you told me a few years ago that a 16-year-old would be doing what he’s done.
“Getting to see it all unfold up close is a privilege.”
Kaitlyn Morrell is a multimedia journalist for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has lived in the region for several years and studied journalism at Massey University.