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5000 metres
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| Athletics 5000 metres | |
|---|---|
 Runners in the 5000 metres at IAAF World Championships in Osaka 2007 | |
| World records | |
| Men |  Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 12:35.36 (2020) |
| Women |  Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 13:58.06 (2025) |
| Short track world records | |
| Men |  Grant Fisher (USA) 12:44.09 (2025) |
| Women |  Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 14:18.86 (2015) |
| Olympic records | |
| Men | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 12:57.82 (2008) |
| Women | Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) 14:26.17 (2016) |
| World Championship records | |
| Men | Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) 12:52.79 (2003) |
| Women | Hellen Obiri (KEN) 14:26.72 (2019) |
| World junior (U20) records | |
| Men | Selemon Barega (ETH) 12:43.02 (2018) |
| Women | Medina Eisa (ETH) 14:16.54 (2023) |
The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over 12+1⁄2 laps of a standard 400 m track, or 25 laps on an indoor 200 m track. The same distance in road running is called a 5K run; referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres serves to disambiguate the two events. The 5000 m has been present on the Olympic programme since 1912 for men and since 1996 for women. Prior to 1996, women had competed in an Olympic 3000 metres race since 1984. The 5000 m has been held at each of the World Championships in Athletics in men's competition and since 1995 in women's. It is approximately equivalent to 3 miles 188 yards or 16,404 feet 2 inches.
The event is almost the same length as the dolichos race held at the Ancient Olympic Games, introduced in 720 BCE. World Athletics keeps official records for both outdoor and indoor 5000-metre track events.[1][2]
3 miles
[edit]The 5000 metres is the (slightly longer) approximate metric equivalent of the 3-mile (4,828.0 m) run, an event common in countries which used the imperial measurement system. The 3-mile event featured in the Commonwealth Games through 1966, and was a championship in the United States in non-Olympic years from 1953 to 1973. It required 12 laps around a 1⁄4-mile (402 m; 440 yd; 1,320 ft) track.
Continental records
[edit]| Area | Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation | |
| Africa (records) | 12:35.36 WR | Joshua Cheptegei | Uganda |
13:58.06 WR | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya
|
| Asia (records) | 12:48.67 | Birhanu Balew |  Bahrain |
14:28.09 | Jiang Bo |  China
|
| Europe (records) | 12:44.27 | Andreas Almgren |  Sweden |
14:13.42 | Sifan Hassan |  Netherlands
|
| North, Central America and Caribbean (records) |
12:45.27 | Nico Young |  United States |
14:19.45 | Alicia Monson | United States
|
| Oceania (records) | 12:55.76 | Craig Mottram |  Australia |
14:39.89 | Kimberley Smith |  New Zealand
|
| South America (records) | 12:59.26 | Santiago Catrofe |  Uruguay |
14:47.76 | Joselyn Daniely Brea |  Venezuela
|
All-time top 25
[edit]| Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 5000m times and the top 25 athletes: |
| - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 5000m times |
| - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 5000m times, by repeat athletes |
| - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 5000m times |
Men (outdoor)
[edit]- Updated June 2025.[5]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 12:35.36 | Joshua Cheptegei | Uganda |
14 August 2020 | Monaco | [6] |
| 2 | 2 | 12:36.73 | Hagos Gebrhiwet | Ethiopia |
30 May 2024 | Oslo | [7] |
| 3 | 3 | 12:37.35 | Kenenisa Bekele |  Ethiopia |
31 May 2004 | Hengelo | |
| 4 | 4 | 12:38.95 | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia |
30 May 2024 | Oslo | [7] |
| 5 | 5 | 12:39.36 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia |
13 June 1998 | Helsinki | |
| 6 | 6 | 12:39.74 | Daniel Komen | Kenya |
22 August 1997 | Brussels | |
| 7 | 12:40.18 | K. Bekele #2 | 1 July 2005 | Saint-Denis | |||
| 7 | 8 | 12:40.45 | Berihu Aregawi | Ethiopia
|
30 June 2023 | Lausanne | [8] |
| 8 | 9 | 12:40.96 | Jacob Kiplimo | Uganda
|
30 May 2024 | Oslo | [7] |
| 10 | 12:41.61 | Cheptegei #2 | 30 June 2023 | Lausanne | [8] | ||
| 11 | 12:41.73 | Kejelcha #2 | 15 June 2023 | Oslo | [9] | ||
| Kiplimo #2 | 15 June 2023 | Oslo | [9] | ||||
| 13 | 12:41.86 | Gebrselassie #2 | 13 August 1997 | Zürich | |||
| 14 | 12:42.18 | Gebrhiwet #2 | 21 July 2023 | Monaco | [10] | ||
| 15 | 12:42.58 | Aregawi #2 | 21 July 2023 | Monaco | [10] | ||
| 9 | 16 | 12:42.70 | Telahun Haile Bekele | Ethiopia
|
21 July 2023 | Monaco | [10] |
| 10 | 17 | 12:43.02 | Selemon Barega | Ethiopia |
31 August 2018 | Brussels | [11] |
| 11 | 18 | 12:44.27 | Andreas Almgren | Sweden |
15 June 2025 | Stockholm | [12] |
| 19 | 12:44.39 | Gebrselassie #3 | 16 August 1995 | Zürich | |||
| 20 | 12:44.90 | Komen #2 | 13 August 1997 | Zürich | |||
| 12 | 21 | 12:45.01 | Mohamed Katir |  Spain
|
21 July 2023 | Monaco | [10] |
| 22 | 12:45.09 | Komen #3 | 14 August 1996 | Zürich | |||
| 13 | 23 | 12:45.27 | Nico Young | United States
|
12 June 2025 | Oslo | [13] |
| 14 | 24 | 12:45.71 | Jacob Krop | Kenya
|
2 September 2022 | Brussels | [14] |
| 25 | 12:45.82 | Gebrhiwet #3 | 31 August 2018 | Brussels | [11] | ||
| 15 | 12:45.93 | Biniam Mehary | Ethiopia
|
12 June 2025 | Oslo | [13] | |
| 16 | 12:46.33 | Nicholas Kimeli | Kenya
|
9 June 2022 | Rome | [15] | |
| 17 | 12:46.41 | Kuma Girma | Ethiopia
|
12 June 2025 | Oslo | [13] | |
| 18 | 12:46.53 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya |
2 July 2004 | Rome | ||
| 19 | 12:46.59 | George Mills |  Great Britain
|
12 June 2025 | Oslo | [13] | |
| 20 | 12:46.81 | Dejen Gebremeskel | Ethiopia |
6 July 2012 | Saint-Denis | [16] | |
| 21 | 12:46.96 | Grant Fisher | United States
|
2 September 2022 | Brussels | [14] | |
| 22 | 12:47.04 | Sileshi Sihine | Ethiopia |
2 July 2004 | Rome | ||
| 23 | 12:47.20 | Mohammed Ahmed |  Canada |
10 July 2020 | Portland | [17] | |
| 24 | 12:47.67 | Thierry Ndikumwenayo | Spain |
12 June 2025 | Oslo | [13] | |
| 25 | 12:48.20 | Graham Blanks | United States
|
12 June 2025 | Oslo | [13] |
Women (outdoor)
[edit]- Updated July 2025.[18]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 13:58.06 | Beatrice Chebet | Kenya
|
5 July 2025 | Eugene | [19] |
| 2 | 2 | 14:00.21 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia
|
17 September 2023 | Eugene | [20] |
| 3 | 3 | 14:01.29 | Agnes Jebet Ngetich | Kenya
|
5 July 2025 | Eugene | [21] |
| 4 | 14:03.69 | Chebet #2 | 6 June 2025 | Rome | [22] | ||
| 5 | 14:04.41 | Tsegay #2 | 5 July 2025 | Eugene | [21] | ||
| 4 | 6 | 14:05.20 | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya
|
9 June 2023 | Paris | [23] |
| 7 | 14:05.92 | Chebet #3 | 17 September 2023 | Eugene | [20] | ||
| 5 | 8 | 14:06.62 | Letesenbet Gidey | Ethiopia |
7 October 2020 | Valencia | [24] |
| 9 | 14:07.94 | Gidey #2 | 9 June 2023 | Paris | [23] | ||
| 10 | 14:08.79 | Gidey #3 | 3 September 2023 | Berlin | [25] | ||
| 11 | 14:09.52 | Chebet #4 | 5 September 2024 | Zurich | [26] | ||
| 12 | 14:09.82 | Chebet #5 | 14 September 2024 | Brussels | [27] | ||
| 6 | 13 | 14:11.15 | Tirunesh Dibaba | Ethiopia |
6 June 2008 | Oslo | |
| 14 | 14:12.29 | Tsegay #3 | 23 July 2023 | London | [28] | ||
| 7 | 15 | 14:12.59 | Almaz Ayana | Ethiopia |
2 June 2016 | Rome | [29] |
| 8 | 16 | 14:12.88 | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia |
22 July 2008 | Stockholm | |
| 17 | 14:12.92 | Chebet #6 | 23 July 2023 | London | [28] | ||
| 9 | 18 | 14:12.98 | Ejgayehu Taye | Ethiopia
|
27 May 2022 | Eugene | [30] |
| 19 | 14:13.31 | Taye #2 | 9 June 2023 | Paris | [23] | ||
| 20 | 14:13.32 | Tsegay #4 | 8 June 2021 | Hengelo | [31] | ||
| 10 | 21 | 14:13.42 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands
|
23 July 2023 | London | [28] |
| 22 | 14:14.09 | Taye #3 | 8 June 2021 | Hengelo | [31] | ||
| 23 | 14:14.32 | Ayana #2 | 17 May 2015 | Shanghai | |||
| 11 | 24 | 14:15.24 | Senbere Teferi | Ethiopia |
8 June 2021 | Hengelo | [31] |
| 12 | 25 | 14:15.41 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia |
4 July 2015 | Saint-Denis | [32] |
| 13 | 14:16.54 | Medina Eisa | Ethiopia |
23 July 2023 | London | [33] | |
| 14 | 14:18.37 | Hellen Obiri | Kenya |
8 June 2017 | Rome | [34] | |
| 15 | 14:18.76 | Tsigie Gebreselama | Ethiopia |
25 May 2024 | Eugene | [35] | |
| 16 | 14:19.33 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia |
6 June 2025 | Rome | [22] | |
| 17 | 14:19.45 | Alicia Monson | United States |
23 July 2023 | London | [33] | |
| 18 | 14:20.68 | Agnes Tirop | Kenya |
21 July 2019 | London | [36] | |
| 19 | 14:20.87 | Vivian Cheruiyot | Kenya |
29 July 2011 | Stockholm | ||
| 20 | 14:22.76 | Aynadis Mebratu | Ethiopia |
25 May 2024 | Eugene | [35] | |
| 21 | 14:23.05 | Lilian Kasait Rengeruk | Kenya
|
9 June 2023 | Paris | [23] | |
| 22 | 14:23.15 | Nadia Battocletti |  Italy |
6 June 2025 | Rome | [22] | |
| 23 | 14:23.67 | Margaret Kipkemboi | Kenya
|
9 June 2023 | Paris | [23] | |
| 24 | 14:23.71 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia
|
25 May 2024 | Eugene | [35] | |
| 25 | 14:23.75 | Liliya Shobukhova |  Russia
|
19 July 2008 | Kazan |
Men (indoor)
[edit]- Updated 2 March 2025.[37]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 12:44.09 | Grant Fisher | United States
|
14 February 2025 | Boston | [38] |
| 2 | 2 | 12:49.60 | Kenenisa Bekele | Ethiopia
|
20 February 2004 | Birmingham | |
| 3 | 3 | 12:50.38 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia
|
14 February 1999 | Birmingham | |
| 4 | 4 | 12:51.48 | Daniel Komen | Kenya
|
19 February 1998 | Stockholm | |
| 5 | 5 | 12:51.56 | Nico Young | United States
|
2 March 2025 | Boston | [39] |
| 6 | 6 | 12:51.61 | William Kincaid | United States
|
27 January 2023 | Boston | [40] |
| 7 | 12:51.84 | Fisher #2 | 16 February 2024 | Boston | [41] | ||
| 7 | 8 | 12:53.29 | Isiah Koech | Kenya
|
11 February 2011 | Düsseldorf | |
| 9 | 12:53.73 | Fisher #3 | 12 February 2022 | Boston | |||
| 8 | 10 | 12:54.92 | Jimmy Gressier |  France
|
14 February 2025 | Boston | [42] |
| 9 | 11 | 12:54.99 | Joe Klecker | United States
|
27 January 2023 | Boston | [40] |
| 10 | 12 | 12:55.02 | Adriaan Wildschutt |  South Africa
|
2 March 2025 | Boston | [39] |
| 11 | 13 | 12:55.72 | Eliud Kipchoge | Kenya
|
11 February 2011 | Düsseldorf | |
| 14 | 12:56.76 | Wildschutt #2 | 26 January 2024 | Boston | [43] | ||
| 12 | 15 | 12:56.87 | Mohammed Ahmed | Canada
|
12 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 13 | 16 | 12:57.08 | Marc Scott | Great Britain
|
12 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 17 | 12:57.14 | Young #2 | 26 January 2024 | Boston | [43] | ||
| 14 | 18 | 12:57.52 | Edwin Kurgat | Kenya
|
26 January 2024 | Boston | [44] |
| 15 | 19 | 12:57.82 | Cole Hocker | United States
|
21 February 2025 | Boston | [45] |
| 16 | 20 | 12:57.97 | Cooper Teare | United States
|
21 February 2025 | Boston | [45] |
| 17 | 21 | 12:58.67 | Thomas Longosiwa | Kenya
|
10 February 2012 | Düsseldorf | |
| 18 | 22 | 12:58.68 | George Mills | Great Britain
|
26 January 2024 | Boston | [44] |
| 19 | 23 | 12:58.73 | Sam Atkin | Great Britain
|
26 January 2024 | Boston | [43] |
| 24 | 12:59.04 | Gebrselassie #2 | 20 February 1997 | Stockholm | |||
| 20 | 25 | 12:59.43 | Jack Rayner | Australia
|
21 February 2025 | Boston | [45] |
| 21 | 12:59.77 | Gulveer Singh |  India
|
21 February 2025 | Boston | [45] | |
| 22 | 12:59.89 | Graham Blanks | United States
|
7 December 2024 | Boston | [46] | |
| 23 | 13:00.48 | Emmanuel Bor | United States
|
12 February 2022 | Boston | ||
| 24 | 13:01.26 | Galen Rupp | United States
|
16 January 2014 | Boston | ||
| 25 | 13:02.09 | Yared Nuguse | United States
|
26 January 2024 | Boston | [44] |
Women (indoor)
[edit]- Updated 16 February 2025.[47]
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 14:18.86 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia
|
19 February 2015 | Stockholm | |
| 2 | 2 | 14:24.37 | Meseret Defar | Ethiopia
|
18 February 2009 | Stockholm | |
| 3 | 14:24.79 | Defar #2 | 10 February 2010 | Stockholm | |||
| 3 | 4 | 14:27.42 | Tirunesh Dibaba | Ethiopia
|
27 January 2007 | Boston | |
| 4 | 5 | 14:30.79 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen |  Germany
|
27 February 2020 | Boston | |
| 5 | 6 | 14:31.38 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | Canada
|
11 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 7 | 14:32.93 | T. Dibaba #2 | 29 January 2005 | Boston | |||
| 6 | 8 | 14:33.17 | Elise Cranny | United States
|
11 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 9 | 14:35.46 | T. Dibaba #3 | 28 January 2006 | Boston | |||
| 7 | 10 | 14:39.29 | Berhane Adere | Ethiopia
|
31 January 2004 | Stuttgart | |
| 8 | 11 | 14:39.89 | Kimberley Smith | New Zealand
|
27 February 2009 | New York City | |
| 9 | 12 | 14:42.94 | Senayet Getachew | Ethiopia
|
27 January 2024 | Boston | [48] |
| 10 | 13 | 14:43.25 | Fantaye Belayneh | Ethiopia
|
27 January 2024 | Boston | [48] |
| 14 | 14:44.53 | T. Dibaba #4 | 6 February 2010 | Boston | |||
| 11 | 15 | 14:44.94 | Aynadis Mebratu | Ethiopia
|
27 January 2024 | Boston | [48] |
| 12 | 16 | 14:46.37 | Marta Garcia | Spain
|
27 January 2024 | Boston | [48] |
| 13 | 17 | 14:46.51 | Josette Andrews | United States
|
27 January 2024 | Boston | [48] |
| 14 | 18 | 14:46.80 | Sentayehu Ejigu | Ethiopia
|
10 February 2010 | Stockholm | |
| 15 | 19 | 14:47.35 | Gabriela Szabo |  Romania
|
13 February 1999 | Dortmund | |
| 20 | 14:47.62 | Ejigu #2 | 7 February 2009 | Boston | |||
| 16 | 21 | 14:47.62 | Shalane Flanagan | United States
|
7 February 2009 | Boston | |
| 22 | 14:48.21 | Adere #2 | 5 February 2003 | Dortmund | |||
| 17 | 23 | 14:48.41 | Whittni Morgan | United States
|
31 January 2025 | Boston | [49] |
| 18 | 24 | 14:48.51 | Vanessa Fraser | United States
|
27 February 2020 | Boston | |
| 19 | 25 | 14:48.75 | Courtney Frerichs | United States
|
11 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 20 | 14:49.12 | Laura Muir | Great Britain
|
4 January 2017 | Glasgow | ||
| 21 | 14:49.36 | Gete Wami | Ethiopia
|
11 February 2001 | Dortmund | ||
| 22 | 14:49.78 | Courtney Wayment | United States
|
27 January 2024 | Boston | [48] | |
| 23 | 14:50.89 | Ella Donaghu | United States
|
31 January 2025 | Boston | [49] | |
| 24 | 14:51.26 | Nozomi Tanaka |  Japan
|
16 February 2025 | Boston | ||
| 25 | 14:51.69 | Tegla Loroupe | Kenya
|
13 February 1999 | Dortmund |
Olympic medalists
[edit]Men
[edit]Two men have won the Olympic 5000 metres on two occasions, both times back-to-back. Lasse Virén of Finland was the first to achieve the feat, winning the title in 1972 in Munich, before retaining the title in 1976 in Montreal. Mo Farah of Great Britain matched the achievement, winning the title in 2012 in London, and retaining it four years later in Rio de Janeiro. Both men achieved 5000/10000 m doubles on each occasion.
Paavo Nurmi is the only male runner to have won three Olympic medals at the distance; one gold and two silvers between 1920 and 1928.
Women
[edit]Only one woman has won the Olympic 5000 metres title twice, Ethiopian Meseret Defar winning in Athens in 2004, taking silver behind compatriot Tirunesh Dibaba in 2008, before regaining the title in London in 2012. Defar and Dibaba are the only athletes with three Olympic medals at the distance, with both reaching the podium in 2004, 2008 and 2012.
World Championships medalists
[edit]Men
[edit]In the World Championships, Great Britain's Mo Farah stands alone, the most successful and most decorated athlete in the event with three gold medals (2011, 2013 and 2015) and four medals in total (including silver in 2017) between 2011 and 2017. Kenya's Ismael Kirui was the first athlete to win the title twice in 1993 and 1995, and Ethiopia's Muktar Edris the third between 2017 and 2019.
Women
[edit]Romania's Gabriela Szabo won the title twice between 1995 and 1997. Since then four African runners - two Kenyan, two Ethiopian - have repeated the feat; Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar of Ethiopia and Vivian Cheruiyot and Hellen Obiri of Kenya. Meseret Defar's five medals - 2 gold, a silver and two bronze won between 2005 and 2013 - are the most won in the event by any athlete.
Season's bests
[edit]
See also
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ "– 5000 Metre Records – Outdoor". Iaaf.org. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "– 5000 Metre Records – Indoor". Iaaf.org. Retrieved 2013-07-25.
- ^ "Men's outdoor 5000 Metres | Records". worldathletics.org. World Athletics. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "Women's outdoor 5000 Metres | Records". worldathletcs.org. World Athletics. Retrieved 2024-02-11.
- ^ "All-time men's best 5000 metres". alltime-athletics.com. 1 September 2018. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ^ "Cheptegei breaks world 5000m record in Monaco as Diamond League action returns". worldathletics.org. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 2020-08-24.
- ^ a b c "5000m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 30 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-30.
- ^ a b "Aregawi beats Cheptegei in 5000m thriller in Lausanne | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-06-30.
- ^ a b Cathal Dennehy (15 June 2023). "Warholm and Ingebrigtsen outstanding in Oslo". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-06-16.
- ^ a b c d "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 21 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-07-21. Retrieved 2023-07-21.
- ^ a b "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 31 August 2018. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-09-05. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
- ^ Robert Johnson (15 June 2025). "2025 Stockholm Diamond League Results – Mondo Duplantis Breaks Pole Vault World Record". letsrun.com. Retrieved 2025-06-16.
- ^ a b c d e f LetsRun.com (12 June 2025). "Nico Young Runs 12:45.27 to Earn Historic 5,000m Win at Oslo Diamond League". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 2025-06-13.
- ^ a b Jon Mulkeen (2 September 2022). "Krop, Mahuchikh and Winger bounce back in Brussels with world-leading marks". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-09-14.
- ^ Jess Whittington (9 June 2022). "Jackson wins sprint showdown, Kimeli reigns in Rome". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-06-22.
- ^ "5000 Metres Results". IAAF. 6 July 2012. Retrieved 2012-07-07.
- ^ "Moh Ahmed Erupts For 12:47 5k, Fastest Ever On U.S. Soil". FloTrack. 11 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-07-12.
- ^ "All-time women's best 5000 metres". alltime-athletics.com. 14 July 2018. Retrieved 2018-07-23.
- ^ "Prefontaine Classic: Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet break world records". NBC Sports. 5 July 2025. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ a b "Tsegay smashes world 5000m record and Duplantis breaks world pole vault record in Eugene | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- ^ a b "5000m Results" (PDF). azureedge.net. Retrieved 2025-07-05.
- ^ a b c "Results 5000m Women" (PDF). Diamond League. 6 June 2025. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2025-06-06. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ^ a b c d e "Kipyegon, Girma and Ingebrigtsen make history in Paris | REPORTS | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-06-09.
- ^ Phil Minshull (7 October 2020). "Cheptegei and Gidey break world records in Valencia". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2020-10-13.
- ^ "5000m Result" (PDF). sportresult.com. 3 September 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-09-03. Retrieved 2023-09-03.
- ^ "5000m Results" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 5 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ "Results 5000m Women" (PDF). Diamond League. 14 September 2024. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2024-09-14. Retrieved 2024-09-15.
- ^ a b c "Bol blazes to 51.45 Diamond League record in London | REPORT | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 2 June 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-08-13. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
- ^ Cathal Dennehy (28 May 2022). "Mahuchikh and Taye triumph on opening night in Eugene". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2022-06-11.
- ^ a b c Hannah Borenstein (8 June 2021). "Gidey breaks 10,000m world record in Hengelo". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2021-06-29.
- ^ "IAAF Diamond League Paris 2015 - 5000m W Results". IAAF. 4 July 2015. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- ^ a b "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 23 July 2023. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2023-07-23. Retrieved 2023-07-23.
- ^ "5000m Results" (PDF). sportresult.com. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-15. Retrieved 2017-06-08.
- ^ a b c "5000m Result" (PDF). swisstiming.com. 25 May 2024. Retrieved 2024-05-27.
- ^ Bob Ramsak (21 July 2019). "Obiri and Fraser-Pryce shine in London - IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 2019-07-31.
- ^ "5000 Metres Short Track - men - senior - all". World Athletics. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ "American Fisher breaks 5,000-meter indoor world record in Boston". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-02-15.
- ^ a b "Track Scoreboard". live.lancertiming.com. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
- ^ a b "2023 John Thomas Terrier Classic Results" (PDF). lancertiming.com. 27 January 2023. p. 49. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ "Track Scoreboard". live.lancertiming.com. Retrieved 2024-02-17.
- ^ "5000m Results". lancertiming.com. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
- ^ a b c "5000m Result". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ a b c "5000m Scarlet Heat Result". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 26 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-27.
- ^ a b c d Tysiac, Ashley (22 February 2025). "Cole Hocker, Cooper Teare Hit 5k World Standard At BU DMR Challenge 2025". FloTrack. Retrieved 2025-02-25.
- ^ "5000m Final 1 Result". World Athletics. Retrieved 2024-12-20.
- ^ "All-time women's best 5000 metres indoor". alltime-athletics.com. 6 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-04.
- ^ a b c d e f "5000m Result". Track & Field Results Reporting System (TFRRS). 27 January 2024. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
- ^ a b "Nilsen vaults 6.01m in Caen, Strand runs 3:48 mile in Boston | REPORTS | World Athletics". worldathletics.org. Retrieved 2025-02-04.
External links
[edit]- IAAF list of 5000-metres records in XML
- ARRS: Yearly Rankings – 5000 metres Outdoor Track
- All-time Masters men's 5000 m list Archived 2017-06-21 at the Wayback Machine
- All-time Masters women's 5000 m list Archived 2017-02-11 at the Wayback Machine
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5000 metres
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The 5000 metres is a standard long-distance track and field event in athletics, in which runners complete 12.5 laps of an outdoor 400-metre track to cover exactly five kilometres.[1]
The race demands exceptional endurance, tactical pacing, and a burst of speed in the final lap, with the winner determined by the first athlete to cross the finish line using their torso.[1]
The men's event debuted at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, where Finland's Hannes Kolehmainen won gold and established the inaugural world record of 14:36.6.[1][2]
Finnish runners, including the legendary Paavo Nurmi, claimed six Olympic gold medals in the event through the early 20th century.[1]
The women's 5000 metres was introduced to the Olympic programme in 1996 at the Atlanta Games, replacing the 3000 metres distance.[1]
Since the late 20th century, athletes from East Africa—particularly Kenya and Ethiopia—have dominated the event in both genders, winning the majority of major titles due to their high-altitude training advantages and physiological adaptations.[1]
The current men's world record is 12:35.36, set by Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei at a meeting in Valencia, Spain, on 7 August 2020.[3]
In the women's race, Kenya's Beatrice Chebet holds the world record of 13:58.06, achieved at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, on 5 July 2025, marking the first sub-14-minute performance in history.[4]
Prominent athletes in the 5000 metres include early icons like Czechoslovakia's Emil Zátopek, who completed the 5000m–10,000m double at the 1952 Olympics, and modern standouts such as Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele, who set the previous men's record in 2004, Great Britain's Mo Farah, a four-time Olympic medallist, and the Netherlands' Sifan Hassan, a multiple world champion.[1][5]
The event features prominently at global competitions like the Olympic Games and World Athletics Championships, where up to three heats narrow the field to a final of eight to ten runners.[1]
*Full progression dates back to 1912 with Hannes Kolehmainen's 14:36.6 in Stockholm; early marks (pre-1970s) often include "h" for hand timing and are abbreviated here for conciseness, focusing on post-1980 electronic records that established modern standards.[2]
*Progression begins in 1982 with Mary Tabb's 15:08.26; the table highlights key post-1995 marks amid rising competition levels.[30]
Indoor world records for the 5000 metres are tracked separately due to the shorter track (200m laps) and controlled environment, which often yield faster times than outdoor equivalents. The men's indoor record stands at 12:44.09, set by Grant Fisher of the United States in Boston, Massachusetts, on 14 February 2025, improving on Kenenisa Bekele's long-standing 12:49.60 from 2004.[31][32] Bekele's 2004 indoor mark was part of his record streak that year, also breaking the outdoor record shortly after. The women's indoor record is 14:18.86 by Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba, set in Stockholm, Sweden, on 19 February 2015, a mark that has endured due to the event's relative rarity indoors.[33]
These indoor records highlight tactical pacing on shorter ovals, with recent men's advances closing the gap to outdoor times.[32][33]
[34]
[35]
*Note: European indoor records focus on athletes from European nations; North African athletes are assigned to Africa.
[38][31][39]
*Note: European indoor records focus on athletes from European nations; North African athletes are assigned to Africa.
Indoor 5000 metres events are rarer outside major championships, leading to fewer updates; many continental marks remain from the 2000s-2010s, with Africa's enduring lead tied to versatile training adaptations.[40][41]
Notable among these are Joshua Cheptegei's world record from the 2020 Monaco Diamond League, which shattered the previous mark by over 28 seconds, and the cluster of sub-12:47 performances in 2024-2025 Oslo meets, highlighting paced races in high-profile international competitions. All times are fully ratified by World Athletics as of November 2025.[3]
Key highlights include Gudaf Tsegay's 2023 world record at the Prefontaine Classic, a championship-style race that broke the previous barrier of 14:06, and the influx of sub-14:05 times in 2023-2025, many from paced efforts at Eugene's Hayward Field during major meets. These performances are all officially verified by World Athletics.[42]
The women's 5000 metres debuted at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, replacing the 3000 metres event that had been contested since 1984, to align the distance with the men's race and promote gender parity in the program. Prior to 1996, women competed in the 3000 metres at the 1984, 1988, and 1992 Games, but the shift to 5000 metres allowed for a more comparable elite-level distance and addressed concerns over the shorter event's intensity for female athletes. Ethiopian and Kenyan runners have claimed several golds since 2004, highlighting East Africa's strong performance in women's distance events.[27][60]
Among the most iconic 5000 metres races at the Olympics, the 1980 Moscow final stands out for Ethiopian Miruts Yifter's dramatic victory, where he surged ahead in the final lap with his distinctive shuffling stride to claim Ethiopia's first Olympic track gold amid a boycott-affected field. Similarly, the 2012 London final was a tactical masterpiece, with Great Britain's Mo Farah defending his 10,000 metres title by holding off a late charge from Bernard Lagat in a slow-paced, bunched-up race that highlighted strategic positioning over raw speed. These moments exemplify the event's blend of endurance and drama on the global stage. Doping issues have periodically affected results, including disqualifications in the 2000s and recent cases like Mohamed Katir's 2024 ban for tampering, though his 2023 Worlds silver stands.[56][57][67]
The 2023 race exemplified tactical intrigue, with Ingebrigtsen outkicking pre-race favorites in a bunched finish, though silver medalist Katir's result was later overshadowed by a four-year ban for anti-doping rule violations involving sample tampering. Earlier controversies included doping disqualifications in the 2000s, such as Russian Olga Yegorova's 2001 women's gold being stripped after a positive test for EPO, underscoring ongoing integrity challenges in distance events.[71][67]
Women's races have similarly reflected East African supremacy, with Ethiopia and Kenya combining for all but three golds since 1995. Tirunesh Dibaba (2003, 2005) and Meseret Defar (2007, 2013) led Ethiopian success, while Kenyans Vivian Cheruiyot (2009, 2011) and Hellen Obiri (2017, 2019) set the championship record of 14:26.72 in Doha. Faith Kipyegon won in 2023 Budapest (14:53.88), but Beatrice Chebet claimed gold in 2025 Tokyo (14:54.36) in a thrilling duel with Kipyegon for silver, completing a 10,000m-5000m double and highlighting Kenya's strategic pack-running tactics.[69][72][73]
Upsets like Almaz Ayana's dominant 2015 Beijing victory (14:26.83, a championship record at the time) have punctuated the event, often decided by bold surges in the final 400 metres amid slower, position-focused pacing. These championships continue to evolve, with increasing scrutiny on anti-doping measures to maintain the event's prestige.[74][75]
Seasonal peaks have been influenced by the Diamond League series, particularly races in Oslo and Paris, which served as key tune-ups ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo in September. The adoption of advanced footwear technologies, such as carbon-plated super shoes since 2020, continues to contribute to faster overall times compared to pre-2020 seasons, though 2025's leading mark trails the all-time best of 12:35.36 set by Joshua Cheptegei in 2020.[3] Indoor events like the February meet in Boston have provided early benchmarks, allowing athletes to build form progressively into the outdoor campaign.[76]
This progression underscores a trend of sub-14:15 times becoming routine in elite seasons, with Beatrice Chebet's 2025 mark establishing a new benchmark under ideal conditions at the Prefontaine Classic. Earlier dominance by athletes like Hellen Obiri (2017–2019) and Almaz Ayana (2015–2016) paved the way, often in championship finals or Diamond League races that favor aggressive pacing.[78]
Event Overview
Race Specifications
The 5000 metres is a middle- to long-distance track event standardized at exactly 5000 meters, equivalent to 12.5 laps on a 400-meter oval track used in outdoor competitions.[1] The distance is measured along the theoretical running path, which for lane 1 is 0.30 meters from the inner edge (or kerb) and for outer lanes is 0.20 meters from the inner lane line, ensuring all runners cover the precise distance when following the shortest allowable route.[6] Tracks must comply with World Athletics certification standards for construction and marking to qualify for international events.[7] Races begin with a standing start, signaled by the command "On your marks," without the use of starting blocks, as required for all events longer than 400 meters.[6] The start line is positioned on the track's back straight in a bunched or arced formation to equalize distances, with athletes assigned positions by lot; for fields exceeding 12 competitors, multiple staggered groups may be used, including one starting across the outer lanes.[6] Following the bunched start, runners may move freely to the inside of the track, typically forming a single file in lane 1 to avoid early crowding.[1] During the race, athletes must adhere to strict conduct rules to ensure safety and fairness, running counterclockwise and staying within the marked path without stepping inside the raised kerb or line on bends.[6] Deliberate obstruction, jostling, or interference—such as blocking another runner's path—is prohibited and may result in disqualification under Rule 163, with the Referee empowered to order a re-run if necessary.[6] Lapping is permitted as faster runners inevitably overtake slower ones over 12.5 laps, but lapped athletes must yield the inside position without impeding leaders or providing pacing assistance, which is also banned.[6] The finish is judged at a white line, 5 cm wide, extending across all lanes, with the winner determined when any part of an athlete's torso (from the shoulders to the hips) breaks the vertical plane extending from the line's near edge.[6] In close contests, electronic photo-finish systems capture images at up to 2000 frames per second, enabling precise timing to 0.001 seconds and accurate placement.[8] Competitions occur on certified synthetic surfaces, commonly known as "tartan" tracks, providing a force reduction of 35-50% for shock absorption, uniform traction, and minimized injury risk.[9] Environmental factors like altitude significantly influence performance; at elevations above 1500 meters, reduced oxygen partial pressure impairs aerobic capacity, potentially slowing 5000m times by 3-5% for non-acclimatized athletes, though elite runners may adapt over weeks to mitigate losses.[10] Indoor versions of the 5000 metres follow similar rules but are contested on a 200-meter banked track, requiring 25 laps and introducing tighter radii on turns that increase centrifugal forces and can reduce average speeds by 1-2% compared to outdoor races due to more frequent curving.[11] Indoor facilities must meet specific World Athletics standards for banking (up to 10 degrees on curves) and surface certification to ensure safety and consistency.[12]Historical Equivalents
The 5000 metres corresponds to approximately 3.10686 miles, serving as a direct metric counterpart to the 3-mile race, which measured 4828 metres and functioned as its primary predecessor under imperial systems prevalent in early athletics. This equivalence facilitated a smooth transition for athletes and organizers familiar with imperial distances, as the 3-mile event demanded similar endurance and pacing strategies over roughly 12 laps on a standard track.[13] In 19th-century British athletics, the 3-mile race was a cornerstone of competitive meets, appearing regularly in university events like those at Oxford and Cambridge, as well as in amateur athletic club gatherings that emphasized pedestrianism and formalized track running. These races, often held on cinder paths or grass enclosures, helped establish the 3-mile as a benchmark for middle-distance prowess before the widespread adoption of metric standards. By the early 20th century, such events influenced international competitions, including the 1908 London Olympics, where a 3-mile team race was contested, requiring teams of five runners to cover the distance collectively.[14][15] The metrication process accelerated in the early 20th century through the efforts of the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF, now World Athletics), which was established in 1912 and proposed a standardized program of metric distances at its 1913 Berlin congress, explicitly including the 5000 metres alongside events like the 1500 metres and 10,000 metres. This initiative, implemented during the 1920s, aligned Olympic and global championships with the metric system, phasing out imperial variants in official international settings while allowing them to persist in national meets like those in Britain and the United States until mid-century. The 5000 metres thus emerged as the unified standard, reflecting broader global shifts toward metric uniformity in sport.[16][17] Performers like Paavo Nurmi bridged these eras in the 1920s, setting a world record in the 3-mile race at 14:11.2 on August 24, 1923, in Helsinki, while also establishing a 5000 metres mark of 14:28.2 in 1924, demonstrating the minimal tactical differences between the distances. Nurmi's achievements, including multiple Olympic golds in both metric and equivalent events, underscored the 5000 metres' role as the modern evolution of the 3-mile, preserving its tactical and physiological demands.[18][19]Historical Development
Origins in Distance Running
The origins of the 5000 metres event trace back to ancient precedents in competitive running, particularly the dolichos race featured in the Olympic Games of ancient Greece starting from the 8th century BC, introduced in 720 BC. This long-distance footrace, the longest event in the program, covered approximately 3.5 to 4.8 kilometers—equivalent to about 20 to 24 lengths of the stadium track—and tested runners' endurance on the stadium track through multiple laps, influencing the conceptual foundation of modern distance events by emphasizing sustained effort and stamina.[20][21] In the 19th century, distance running gained traction through informal and professional competitions in Europe and North America, where pedestrianism dominated as a spectacle of endurance. Pedestrian events, often held on tracks or roads, featured fixed-distance races or time trials that frequently approximated or exceeded 5000 meters, such as multi-hour challenges or targeted walks-runs covering 5 to 10 kilometers, drawing crowds with their blend of athleticism and wagering.[22][23] Concurrently, emerging road races in Britain and the United States, like early multi-mile contests organized by local communities, further popularized moderate long-distance efforts around 3 to 5 miles (roughly 5 to 8 kilometers), laying groundwork for formalized track standards.[24] Amateur athletic clubs played a pivotal role in transitioning these informal practices toward structured distance running by the mid-19th century. The London Athletic Club, established in 1863 as the world's first independent athletic organization, championed standardized track events, including middle- and long-distance races measured in imperial units that closely aligned with 5000 meters, such as the 3-mile (4828 meters) event.[23] Similar clubs in North America, like the New York Athletic Club founded in 1868, adopted these conventions, hosting meets that refined rules and distances to promote fair amateur competition and curb professional excesses from pedestrianism.[23] The cultural significance of distance running was amplified in the early 20th century through national traits like the Finnish concept of sisu—a stoic resilience and perseverance—that propelled runners to international prominence and heightened the event's appeal. Finnish athletes, embodying this ethos, excelled in endurance races approximating 5000 meters, fostering a legacy of gritty determination that resonated globally and underscored running's role in cultural identity.[25]Evolution in Track and Field
The 5000 metres event was formally integrated into organized track and field athletics with its debut as a men's competition at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm, where it replaced the earlier 5-mile race and featured athletes completing 12.5 laps on a standard track.[26] The women's 5000 metres followed much later, making its Olympic premiere at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, reflecting the gradual expansion of distance events for female competitors in international athletics.[27] Post-World War II, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), now World Athletics, significantly contributed to the event's growth by standardizing competition formats and promoting global participation through organized meets and rule updates that supported the sport's recovery and expansion.[28] This included refinements to pacing regulations in distance races to ensure equitable competition by prohibiting assistance from non-participants or lapped runners, which helped maintain the integrity of tactical strategies in the 5000 metres.[6] Additionally, the adoption of electronic timing technology in the 1960s, first officially implemented at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, revolutionized performance measurement by providing precise timings to the hundredth of a second, far surpassing manual methods.[28] During the 1920s through 1950s, European athletes held sway in the 5000 metres, leveraging established training infrastructures and dominating Olympic and European championships.[28] From the 1960s onward, dominance shifted decisively to East African nations, particularly Kenya and Ethiopia, where runners benefited from physiological adaptations gained through high-altitude training environments above 2,000 meters, enhancing aerobic capacity and endurance. This transition was underscored by key milestones, such as Moroccan athlete Said Aouita becoming the first man to break the 13-minute barrier with a time of 12:58.39 in Rome in 1987, highlighting the event's evolving speed standards.[29]Records and Achievements
World Records
The 5000 metres world records are ratified by World Athletics, the sport's governing body, which requires performances to meet strict criteria including accurate timing, certified facilities, and mandatory anti-doping testing conducted in accordance with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) protocols. Since the 1980s, following doping scandals in distance running, ratification has emphasized rigorous drug testing, with samples analyzed at WADA-accredited laboratories to ensure clean competition. These measures have helped maintain the integrity of records, though progression has accelerated in recent decades due to advances in training, footwear, and track technology. The current men's world record is 12:35.36, set by Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei at the Herculis meeting in Monaco on 14 August 2020.[2] The current women's world record is 13:58.06, achieved by Kenya's Beatrice Chebet at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, USA, on 5 July 2025.[30] These marks represent significant breakthroughs, with Chebet becoming the first woman to break 14 minutes outdoors.Men's Outdoor World Record Progression
The men's 5000 metres world record has evolved from hand-timed efforts in the early 20th century to electronically timed sub-13-minute performances today. Early records were dominated by Finnish runners like Paavo Nurmi, while modern progression reflects East African dominance, particularly from Ethiopian and Kenyan athletes. Notable streaks include Kenenisa Bekele's 2004 improvement, lowering the mark from Haile Gebrselassie's 12:39.36 to 12:37.35 in Hengelo, Netherlands, showcasing Bekele's versatility across distances.[2]| Time | Athlete | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:35.36 | Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) | 14 Aug 2020 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 12:37.35 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | 31 May 2004 | FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED) |
| 12:39.36 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 13 Jun 1998 | Helsinki (FIN) |
| 12:39.74 | Daniel Komen (KEN) | 22 Aug 1997 | Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 12:41.86 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 13 Aug 1997 | Zürich (SUI) |
| 12:44.39 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 16 Aug 1995 | Zürich (SUI) |
| 12:55.30 | Moses Kiptanui (KEN) | 8 Jun 1995 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 12:56.96 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 4 Jun 1994 | FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED) |
| 13:00.40* | Saïd Aouita (MAR) | 27 Jul 1985 | Oslo (NOR) |
| 13:21.14 | Belayneh Dinsamo (ETH) | 20 Jun 1981 | Oslo (NOR) |
Women's Outdoor World Record Progression
The women's 5000 metres was officially recognized by World Athletics in 1982, with progression accelerating from the mid-1980s as the event gained Olympic status in 1996. Ethiopian runners have been pivotal, with Tirunesh Dibaba's 2008 mark of 14:11.15 standing for over a decade before recent sub-14:05 surges by Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes, reflecting improved global depth.[30]| Time | Athlete | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13:58.06 | Beatrice Chebet (KEN) | 5 Jul 2025 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 14:00.21 | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) | 17 Sep 2023 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 14:05.20 | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) | 9 Jun 2023 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 14:06.62 | Letesenbet Gidey (ETH) | 7 Oct 2020 | Estadio de Atletismo, Valencia (ESP) |
| 14:11.15 | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) | 6 Jun 2008 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 14:16.63 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 15 Jun 2007 | Oslo (NOR) |
| 14:24.53 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 3 Jun 2006 | New York, NY (USA) |
| 14:24.68 | Elvan Abeylegesse (TUR) | 11 Jun 2004 | Bergen (NOR) |
| 14:28.09 | Jiang Bo (CHN) | 23 Oct 1997 | Shanghai (CHN) |
| 14:31.27 | Dong Yanmei (CHN) | 21 Oct 1997 | Shanghai (CHN) |
Men's Indoor World Record Progression (Key Marks)
Indoor progression for men is less frequent, with only a handful of changes since the 1980s, emphasizing Bekele's dominance.| Time | Athlete | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:44.09 | Grant Fisher (USA) | 14 Feb 2025 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 12:49.60 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | 20 Feb 2004 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) |
| 12:50.38 | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | 14 Feb 1999 | Birmingham (GBR) |
| 12:52.90 | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | 11 Mar 2006 | Moscow (RUS) |
| 13:05.40 | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | 12 Feb 2003 | Stuttgart (GER) |
Women's Indoor World Record Progression
The women's indoor event has seen steady improvement since the 1980s, led by Ethiopian athletes in the 2000s.| Time | Athlete | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:18.86 | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) | 19 Feb 2015 | Globe Arena, Stockholm (SWE) |
| 14:24.37 | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 18 Feb 2009 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 14:27.42 | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) | 27 Jan 2007 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 14:32.93 | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) | 29 Jan 2005 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 14:39.29 | Berhane Adere (ETH) | 31 Jan 2004 | Schleyer-Halle, Stuttgart (GER) |
| 14:47.35 | Gabriela Szabo (ROU) | 13 Feb 1999 | Dortmund (GER) |
Continental Records
Continental records in the 5000 metres highlight the regional strengths and developments in distance running, offering a lens into how environmental, cultural, and training factors shape performances across the globe. These records, maintained by World Athletics as area records, reflect the best times achieved by athletes from each continent, both outdoors and indoors, and serve as benchmarks for regional excellence relative to the global standard set by world records.[34] Africa has dominated continental records in the 5000 metres since the 1970s, with East African runners from Kenya and Ethiopia consistently lowering benchmarks through a combination of genetic adaptations, high-altitude living, and rigorous early-life training regimens. The progression began accelerating in the late 1970s under pioneers like Henry Rono, who set an African record of 13:06.4 in 1978, followed by dramatic improvements in the 1990s and 2000s by Haile Gebrselassie (Ethiopia) with 12:56.96 in 1995 and Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) with 12:37.35 in 2004. More recently, Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) established the current African outdoor mark of 12:35.36 in 2020, underscoring ongoing East African supremacy. For women, the trajectory mirrors this, with records evolving from 15:03.0 by Joan Chebet (Kenya) in 1989 to Beatrice Chebet's 13:58.06 in 2025, driven by similar high-altitude advantages in the Rift Valley regions of Kenya and Ethiopia, where runners train at elevations over 2,000 meters to enhance oxygen efficiency.[34][35][36][37] In contrast, European records have progressed through advanced track facilities, scientific coaching, and competitive depth, with recent breakthroughs like Andreas Almgren's (Sweden) 12:44.27 in 2025 reflecting tactical racing in major meets. Asian records show steady improvement via state-supported programs, exemplified by Bahrain's naturalized athletes, while North America (NACAC) benefits from collegiate systems and indoor innovation. Oceania and South America lag due to smaller talent pools and fewer elite facilities, though emerging talents like Australia's Rose Davies and Uruguay's Santiago Catrofe indicate potential growth. Indoor records, less frequently contested, often align closely with outdoor marks but highlight specialized training, such as Grant Fisher's NACAC indoor best.[34][35]Current Outdoor Records - Men
| Continent | Athlete | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) | 12:35.36 | 14 Aug 2020 | Monaco (MON) |
| Asia | Birhanu Balew (BRN) | 12:48.67 | 20 Jun 2025 | Paris (FRA) |
| Europe | Andreas Almgren (SWE) | 12:44.27 | 15 Jun 2025 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| NACAC | Grant Fisher (USA) | 12:46.96 | 3 Jun 2021 | Doha (QAT) |
| Oceania | Craig Mottram (AUS) | 12:55.76 | 30 Jul 2004 | London (GBR) |
| South America | Santiago Catrofe (URU) | 12:59.26 | 20 Jun 2025 | Paris (FRA) |
Current Outdoor Records - Women
| Continent | Athlete | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Beatrice Chebet (KEN) | 13:58.06 | 5 Jul 2025 | Eugene, OR (USA) |
| Asia | Jiang Bo (CHN) | 14:28.09 | 23 Oct 1997 | Shanghai (CHN) |
| Europe | Sifan Hassan (NED) | 14:13.42 | 23 Jul 2023 | London (GBR) |
| NACAC | Alicia Monson (USA) | 14:19.45 | 23 Jul 2023 | London (GBR) |
| Oceania | Rose Davies (AUS) | 14:31.45 | 19 Jul 2025 | London (GBR) |
| South America | Joselyn Daniely Brea (VEN) | 14:36.59 | 17 May 2024 | Los Angeles, CA (USA) |
Current Indoor Records - Men
| Continent | Athlete | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | 12:49.60 | 20 Feb 2004 | Fayetteville, AR (USA) |
| Asia | Gulveer Singh (IND) | 12:59.77 | 22 Feb 2025 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| Europe | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | 12:48.76 | 18 Feb 2023 | Liévin (FRA) |
| NACAC | Grant Fisher (USA) | 12:44.09 | 14 Feb 2025 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| Oceania | Ryan Gregson (AUS) | 13:16.82 | 7 Mar 2014 | Melbourne (AUS) |
| South America | Hudson de Souza (BRA) | 13:18.84 | 6 Mar 2010 | Lisbon (POR) |
Current Indoor Records - Women
| Continent | Athlete | Time | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Africa | Meseret Defar (ETH) | 14:24.37 | 18 Feb 2009 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| Asia | Sun Yingjie (CHN) | 14:51.94 | 18 Feb 2004 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| Europe | Lidia Şimon (ROU) | 15:03.45 | 2 Mar 2001 | Stuttgart (GER) |
| NACAC | Shannon Rowbury (USA) | 14:56.24 | 27 Feb 2015 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| Oceania | Kim Lock (NZL) | 15:37.35 | 5 Mar 2005 | Melbourne (AUS) |
| South America | Yolanda Quimbita (ECU) | 16:02.00 | 6 Mar 2010 | Lisbon (POR) |
Top Performers
All-Time Lists (Outdoor)
The all-time lists for outdoor 5000 metres performances showcase the elite level of the event, with times improving dramatically over the decades due to advancements in training, altitude acclimatization, and competitive pacing. These rankings, maintained by World Athletics, reflect verified results from official competitions and exclude any wind-assisted or non-standard performances.[3][42] Since the early 2000s, East African athletes from Ethiopia and Kenya have dominated the top rankings, occupying all of the men's top 10 spots and nearly all of the women's, driven by high-altitude training and genetic advantages in endurance running. This trend underscores the event's evolution from European and North American influences in the 20th century to a stronghold of African excellence in modern track and field.[3][42]Men's All-Time Top 25 (Outdoor)
The following table lists the top 25 verified outdoor performances by men, including the athlete's name, nationality (based on performance date), time, date, and venue. All entries are from standard track meets, such as Diamond League events or national championships, with no wind assistance noted.[3]| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:35.36 | Joshua Cheptegei | UGA | 14 AUG 2020 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 2 | 12:36.73 | Hagos Gebrhiwet | ETH | 30 MAY 2024 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 3 | 12:37.35 | Kenenisa Bekele | ETH | 31 MAY 2004 | FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED) |
| 4 | 12:38.95 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 30 MAY 2024 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 5 | 12:39.36 | Haile Gebrselassie | ETH | 13 JUN 1998 | Helsinki Olympic Stadium, Helsinki (FIN) |
| 6 | 12:39.74 | Daniel Komen | KEN | 22 AUG 1997 | Stade Roi Baudouin, Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 7 | 12:40.45 | Berihu Aregawi | ETH | 30 JUN 2023 | Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne (SUI) |
| 8 | 12:40.96 | Jacob Kiplimo | UGA | 30 MAY 2024 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 9 | 12:42.70 | Telahun Haile Bekele | ETH | 21 JUL 2023 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 10 | 12:43.02 | Selemon Barega | ETH | 31 AUG 2018 | Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 11 | 12:44.09 | Grant Fisher | USA | 14 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 12 | 12:44.27 | Andreas Almgren | SWE | 15 JUN 2025 | Olympiastadion, Stockholm (SWE) |
| 13 | 12:45.01 | Mohamed Katir | ESP | 21 JUL 2023 | Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON) |
| 14 | 12:45.27 | Nico Young | USA | 12 JUN 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 15 | 12:45.71 | Jacob Krop | KEN | 02 SEP 2022 | Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles (BEL) |
| 16 | 12:45.93 | Biniam Mehary | ETH | 12 JUN 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 17 | 12:46.33 | Nicholas Kipkorir | KEN | 09 JUN 2022 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 18 | 12:46.41 | Kuma Girma | ETH | 12 JUN 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 19 | 12:46.53 | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | 02 JUL 2004 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 20 | 12:46.59 | George Mills | GBR | 12 JUN 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 21 | 12:46.81 | Dejen Gebremeskel | ETH | 06 JUL 2012 | Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis (FRA) |
| 22 | 12:47.04 | Sileshi Sihine | ETH | 02 JUL 2004 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 23 | 12:47.20 | Mohammed Ahmed | CAN | 10 JUL 2020 | Jesuit High School Track, Portland, OR (USA) |
| 24 | 12:47.67 | Thierry Ndikumwenayo | ESP | 12 JUN 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 25 | 12:48.20 | Graham Blanks | USA | 12 JUN 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
Women's All-Time Top 25 (Outdoor)
The women's top 25 outdoor performances are similarly dominated by East Africans, with rapid improvements in recent years from altitude-trained runners in major Diamond League and championship events. The table below details the verified results.[42]| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13:58.06 | Beatrice Chebet | KEN | 05 JUL 2025 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 2 | 14:00.21 | Gudaf Tsegay | ETH | 17 SEP 2023 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 3 | 14:01.29 | Agnes Jebet Ngetich | KEN | 05 JUL 2025 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 4 | 14:05.20 | Faith Kipyegon | KEN | 09 JUN 2023 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 5 | 14:06.62 | Letesenbet Gidey | ETH | 07 OCT 2020 | Estadio de Atletismo del Turia, Valencia (ESP) |
| 6 | 14:11.15 | Tirunesh Dibaba | ETH | 06 JUN 2008 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR) |
| 7 | 14:12.59 | Almaz Ayana | ETH | 02 JUN 2016 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 8 | 14:12.88 | Meseret Defar | ETH | 22 JUL 2008 | Stockholm Stadium, Stockholm (SWE) |
| 9 | 14:12.98 | Ejgayehu Taye | ETH | 27 MAY 2022 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 10 | 14:13.42 | Sifan Hassan | NED | 23 JUL 2023 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) |
| 11 | 14:15.24 | Senbere Teferi | ETH | 08 JUN 2021 | FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED) |
| 12 | 14:15.41 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 04 JUL 2015 | Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis (FRA) |
| 13 | 14:16.54 | Medina Eisa | ETH | 23 JUL 2023 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) |
| 14 | 14:18.37 | Hellen Obiri | KEN | 08 JUN 2017 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 15 | 14:18.76 | Tsigie Gebreselama | ETH | 25 MAY 2024 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 16 | 14:19.33 | Freweyni Hailu | ETH | 06 JUN 2025 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 17 | 14:19.45 | Alicia Monson | USA | 23 JUL 2023 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) |
| 18 | 14:20.68 | Agnes Jebet Tirop | KEN | 21 JUL 2019 | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) |
| 19 | 14:20.87 | Vivian Jepkemei Cheruiyot | KEN | 29 JUL 2011 | Olympiastadion, Stockholm (SWE) |
| 20 | 14:22.76 | Aynadis Mebratu | ETH | 25 MAY 2024 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 21 | 14:23.05 | Lilian Kasait Rengeruk | KEN | 09 JUN 2023 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 22 | 14:23.15 | Nadia Battocletti | ITA | 06 JUN 2025 | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) |
| 23 | 14:23.67 | Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi | KEN | 09 JUN 2023 | Stade Charléty, Paris (FRA) |
| 24 | 14:23.71 | Birke Haylom | ETH | 25 MAY 2024 | Hayward Field, Eugene, OR (USA) |
| 25 | 14:23.75 | Liliya Shobukhova | RUS | 19 JUL 2008 | Central Stadium, Kazan (RUS) |
All-Time Lists (Indoor)
Indoor 5000 metres races present unique challenges compared to outdoor events, primarily due to the smaller 200-metre tracks commonly used in indoor facilities, which feature tighter turns that runners must navigate 25 times over the distance.[43] These sharper curves require athletes to lean more aggressively and slightly decelerate on each bend to maintain balance and speed, increasing the physical demands on the body and often resulting in times that are typically 20-30 seconds slower than equivalent outdoor performances.[44] Additionally, the confined space can lead to more frequent jostling among competitors and less optimal pacing due to the repetitive nature of the turns.[45] In recent years, particularly post-2020, American athletes have shown a notable surge in indoor 5000 metres performances, breaking national records multiple times and elevating the United States to a stronger global presence in the event.[46] This trend is exemplified by Grant Fisher's progression from a 12:51.61 American record in 2023 to shattering the world indoor record with 12:44.09 in 2025, alongside breakthroughs from peers like Nico Young and Cole Hocker.[47] The following tables present the top 25 all-time performers in the men's and women's indoor 5000 metres, based on verified performances from World Athletics.[32][48]Men's All-Time Top 25 (Indoor)
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:44.09 | Grant Fisher | USA | 14 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 2 | 12:49.60 | Kenenisa Bekele | ETH | 20 FEB 2004 | National Indoor Arena, Birmingham (GBR) |
| 3 | 12:50.38 | Haile Gebrselassie | ETH | 14 FEB 1999 | Birmingham (GBR) |
| 4 | 12:51.48 | Daniel Komen | KEN | 19 FEB 1998 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 5 | 12:51.56 | Nico Young | USA | 02 MAR 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 6 | 12:51.61 | William Kincaid | USA | 27 JAN 2023 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 7 | 12:53.29 | Isiah Kiplangat Koech | KEN | 11 FEB 2011 | Düsseldorf (GER) |
| 8 | 12:54.92 | Jimmy Gressier | FRA | 14 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 9 | 12:54.99 | Joe Klecker | USA | 27 JAN 2023 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 10 | 12:55.02 | Adriaan Wildschutt | RSA | 02 MAR 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 11 | 12:55.72 | Eliud Kipchoge | KEN | 11 FEB 2011 | Düsseldorf (GER) |
| 12 | 12:56.87 | Mohammed Ahmed | CAN | 12 FEB 2022 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 13 | 12:57.08 | Marc Scott | GBR | 12 FEB 2022 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 14 | 12:57.52 | Edwin Kurgat | KEN | 26 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 15 | 12:57.82 | Cole Hocker | USA | 21 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 16 | 12:57.97 | Cooper Teare | USA | 21 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 17 | 12:58.67 | Thomas Longosiwa | KEN | 10 FEB 2012 | Düsseldorf (GER) |
| 18 | 12:58.68 | George Mills | GBR | 26 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 19 | 12:58.73 | Sam Atkin | GBR | 26 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 20 | 12:59.43 | Jack Rayner | AUS | 21 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 21 | 12:59.77 | Gulveer Singh | IND | 21 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 22 | 12:59.89 | Graham Blanks | USA | 07 DEC 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 23 | 13:00.48 | Emmanuel Bor | USA | 12 FEB 2022 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 24 | 13:01.26 | Galen Rupp | USA | 16 JAN 2014 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 25 | 13:02.08 | Romain Legendre | FRA | 01 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
Women's All-Time Top 25 (Indoor)
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14:18.86 | Genzebe Dibaba | ETH | 19 FEB 2015 | Globe Arena, Stockholm (SWE) |
| 2 | 14:24.37 | Meseret Defar | ETH | 18 FEB 2009 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 3 | 14:27.42 | Tirunesh Dibaba | ETH | 27 JAN 2007 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 4 | 14:30.79 | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | GER | 27 FEB 2020 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 5 | 14:31.38 | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | CAN | 11 FEB 2022 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 6 | 14:33.17 | Elise Cranny | USA | 11 FEB 2022 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 7 | 14:39.29 | Berhane Adere | ETH | 31 JAN 2004 | Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) |
| 8 | 14:39.89 | Kimberley Smith | NZL | 27 FEB 2009 | New York, NY (USA) |
| 9 | 14:42.94 | Senayet Getachew | ETH | 27 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 10 | 14:43.25 | Fantaye Belayneh | ETH | 27 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 11 | 14:44.80 | Josette Andrews | USA | 02 MAR 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 12 | 14:44.94 | Aynadis Mebratu | ETH | 27 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 13 | 14:45.81 | Emily Mackay | USA | 02 MAR 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 14 | 14:46.37 | Marta García | ESP | 27 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 15 | 14:46.80 | Sentayehu Ejigu | ETH | 10 FEB 2010 | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 16 | 14:47.35 | Gabriela Szabo | ROU | 13 FEB 1999 | Dortmund (GER) |
| 17 | 14:47.62 | Shalane Flanagan | USA | 07 FEB 2009 | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 18 | 14:48.41 | Whittni Morgan | USA | 31 JAN 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 19 | 14:48.51 | Vanessa Fraser | USA | 27 FEB 2020 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 20 | 14:48.75 | Courtney Frerichs | USA | 11 FEB 2022 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 21 | 14:49.12 | Laura Muir | GBR | 04 JAN 2017 | Glasgow (GBR) |
| 22 | 14:49.36 | Gete Wami | ETH | 11 FEB 2001 | Dortmund (GER) |
| 23 | 14:49.78 | Courtney Wayment | USA | 27 JAN 2024 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 24 | 14:50.89 | Ella Donaghu | USA | 31 JAN 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
| 25 | 14:51.26 | Nozomi Tanaka | JPN | 15 FEB 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center, Boston, MA (USA) |
Major International Competitions
Olympic Games
The 5000 metres has been a men's event at the Olympic Games since its introduction in 1912 at the Stockholm Olympics, replacing the earlier 5000 metres team race from 1908 and establishing itself as a premier middle-distance track competition. Finnish athletes dominated the early decades, winning six golds, including five consecutive from 1924 through 1936, reflecting the nation's strength in distance running during that era. The event evolved to showcase tactical racing and endurance, with East African nations like Ethiopia and Kenya emerging as powerhouses from the 1980s onward, securing several golds, including 6 of the 12 from 1980 to 2024.[49][1]| Olympic Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1912 Stockholm | Hannes Kolehmainen (FIN) | Jean Bouin (FRA) | George Hutson (GBR) |
| 1920 Antwerp | Joseph Guillemot (FRA) | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Eric Backman (SWE) |
| 1924 Paris | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Edvin Wide (SWE) |
| 1928 Amsterdam | Ville Ritola (FIN) | Paavo Nurmi (FIN) | Hermann Buse (GER) |
| 1932 Los Angeles | Lauri Lehtinen (FIN) | Jerry Cornes (GBR) | Ralph Hill (USA) |
| 1936 Berlin | Gunnar Höckert (FIN) | Lauri Lehtinen (FIN) | Henry Jonsson (SWE) |
| 1948 London | Gaston Reiff (BEL) | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Willem Slijkhuis (NED) |
| 1952 Helsinki | Emil Zátopek (TCH) | Alain Mimoun (FRA) | Herbert Schade (GER) |
| 1956 Melbourne | Vladimir Kuts (URS) | Gordon Pirie (GBR) | Derek Ibbotson (GBR) |
| 1960 Rome | Murray Halberg (NZL) | Hans Grodotzki (EUA) | Kazimierz Zimny (POL) |
| 1964 Tokyo | Bob Schul (USA) | Harald Norpoth (GER) | Bill Dellinger (USA) |
| 1968 Mexico City | Mohamed Gammoudi (TUN) | Kipchoge Keino (KEN) | Naftali Temu (KEN) |
| 1972 Munich | Lasse Virén (FIN) | Mohamed Gammoudi (TUN) | Ian Stewart (GBR) |
| 1976 Montreal | Lasse Virén (FIN) | Carlos Lopes (POR) | Brendan Foster (GBR) |
| 1980 Moscow | Miruts Yifter (ETH) | Suleiman Nyambui (TAN) | Kaarlo Maaninka (FIN) |
| 1984 Los Angeles | Said Aouita (MAR) | Markus Ryffel (SUI) | Antonio Leitão (POR) |
| 1988 Seoul | John Ngugi (KEN) | Dieter Baumann (GER) | Hansjörg Kunze (GDR) |
| 1992 Barcelona | Dieter Baumann (GER) | Paul Bitok (KEN) | Fita Bayisa (ETH) |
| 1996 Atlanta | Venuste Niyongabo (BDI) | Daniel Komen (KEN) | Salah Hissou (MAR) |
| 2000 Sydney | Millon Wolde (ETH) | Paul Bitok (KEN) | Ismail Sghyr (FRA) |
| 2004 Athens | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | Bernard Lagat (KEN) |
| 2008 Beijing | Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) | Bernard Lagat (USA) | Moses Kipsiro (UGA) |
| 2012 London | Mo Farah (GBR) | Dejen Gebremeskel (ETH) | Thomas Longosiwa (KEN) |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Mo Farah (GBR) | Paul Tanui (KEN) | Muktar Edris (ETH) |
| 2020 Tokyo | Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) | Mohammed Ahmed (CAN) | Paul Chelimo (USA) |
| 2024 Paris | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | Ronald Kwemoi (KEN) | Grant Fisher (USA) |
| Olympic Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Atlanta | Wang Junxia (CHN) | Pauline Konga (KEN) | Roberta Brunet (ITA) |
| 2000 Sydney | Gabriela Szabo (ROM) | Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) | Gete Wami (ETH) |
| 2004 Athens | Isabella Ochichi (KEN) | Werkuha Bezabeh (ETH) | Ejegayehu Dibaba (ETH) |
| 2008 Beijing | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) | Meseret Defar (ETH) | Sylvia Kibet (KEN) |
| 2012 London | Meseret Defar (ETH) | Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) | Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH) |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro | Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN) | Mercy Cherono (KEN) | Senbere Teferi (ETH) |
| 2020 Tokyo | Sifan Hassan (NED) | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) | Hellen Obiri (KEN) |
| 2024 Paris | Beatrice Chebet (KEN) | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) | Sifan Hassan (NED) |
World Championships
The 5000 metres event at the World Athletics Championships has been contested by men since the inaugural 1983 edition in Helsinki and by women since 1995 in Gothenburg, when it replaced the 3000 metres on the programme. Held biennially since 1993 (with earlier editions in 1983, 1987, and 1991), the championships provide a critical showcase for elite distance runners in non-Olympic years, emphasizing tactical depth and international rivalries between East African nations, Europe, and emerging powers like the United States.[68][69] In the men's competition, Kenyan athletes were prominent in the 1990s and early 2000s, securing five gold medals between 1991 and 2005 through runners like Ismael Kirui (1993, 1995), Daniel Komen (1997), and Eliud Kipchoge (2003), who set the championship record of 12:52.79 in Saint-Denis. Ethiopia and Great Britain later asserted influence, with Kenenisa Bekele winning in 2009 and Mo Farah claiming three consecutive titles from 2011 to 2015, highlighting the shift toward more tactical races where positioning often trumps raw speed. Recent editions have seen Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen defend his title in 2023 Budapest (13:11.30) before American Cole Hocker staged a dramatic upset in 2025 Tokyo, surging from 12th to first in the final lap for gold in 12:58.30, marking the first U.S. victory since Bernard Lagat in 2007.[68][70]| Edition | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Eugene, USA | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), 13:09.24 | Jacob Krop (KEN), 13:09.91 | Grant Fisher (USA), 13:09.99 |
| 2023 | Budapest, HUN | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR), 13:11.30 | Mohamed Katir (ESP), 13:11.44 | Jacob Krop (KEN), 13:12.28 |
| 2025 | Tokyo, JPN | Cole Hocker (USA), 12:58.30 | Isaac Kimeli (BEL), 12:58.78 | Jimmy Gressier (FRA), 12:59.33 |
| Edition | Location | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Eugene, USA | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH), 14:46.29 | Helen Obiri (KEN), 14:46.68 | Letesenbet Gidey (ETH), 14:47.02 |
| 2023 | Budapest, HUN | Faith Kipyegon (KEN), 14:53.88 | Sifan Hassan (NED), 14:54.11 | Beatrice Chebet (KEN), 14:54.33 |
| 2025 | Tokyo, JPN | Beatrice Chebet (KEN), 14:54.36 | Faith Kipyegon (KEN), 14:55.07 | Nadia Battocletti (ITA), 14:55.42 |
Annual Performances
Men's Season Bests
The 2025 men's 5000 metres season, up to November, has seen a mix of indoor and outdoor performances, with the fastest time recorded indoors early in the year and subsequent outdoor races pushing the pace during the European summer circuit.[76] The season's top marks reflect strong competition in high-profile meets, though overall leading times have been slightly slower than the 2024 peak of 12:36.73 set by Hagos Gebrhiwet in Oslo.[77] The following table lists the top 15 season bests for men in 2025, combining indoor and outdoor results as per official rankings:| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12:44.09 | Grant Fisher | USA | 14 Feb 2025 | Boston Univ. Track & Tennis Center (i) |
| 2 | 12:44.27 | Andreas Almgren | SWE | 15 Jun 2025 | Olympiastadion, Stockholm |
| 3 | 12:45.27 | Nico Young | USA | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 4 | 12:45.93 | Biniam Mehary | ETH | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 5 | 12:46.41 | Kuma Girma | ETH | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 6 | 12:46.59 | George Mills | GBR | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 7 | 12:46.82 | Hagos Gebrhiwet | ETH | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 8 | 12:47.67 | Thierry Ndikumwenayo | ESP | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 9 | 12:47.84 | Yomif Kejelcha | ETH | 20 Jun 2025 | Stade Charléty, Paris |
| 10 | 12:48.20 | Graham Blanks | USA | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 11 | 12:48.67 | Birhanu Balew | BRN | 20 Jun 2025 | Stade Charléty, Paris |
| 12 | 12:49.80 | Mezgebu Sime | ETH | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 13 | 12:50.45 | Berihu Aregawi | ETH | 03 May 2025 | China Textile City Sports Centre |
| 14 | 12:50.87 | Dominic Lobalu | SUI | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
| 15 | 12:51.16 | Jacob Krop | KEN | 12 Jun 2025 | Bislett Stadion, Oslo |
Women's Season Bests
The women's 5000 metres season bests illustrate the rapid evolution of the event, with times improving dramatically since the mid-2010s due to enhanced training, pacing strategies, and high-altitude preparation among East African athletes. Kenyan and Ethiopian runners have dominated recent years, frequently shattering world records and pushing the global standard below 14:20 in competitive seasons. These performances often occur at major Diamond League meets or championships, highlighting the event's tactical depth and endurance demands.[78] Notable recent season bests, representing the fastest outdoor times each year, are summarized below. Data reflects verified top performances as of November 2025.| Year | Time | Athlete | Nationality | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 13:58.06 | Beatrice Chebet | KEN | Hayward Field, Eugene (USA) | 05 Jul 2025 |
| 2024 | 14:09.52 | Beatrice Chebet | KEN | Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI) | 05 Sep 2024 |
| 2023 | 14:00.21 | Gudaf Tsegay | ETH | Hayward Field, Eugene (USA) | 17 Sep 2023 |
| 2022 | 14:12.98 | Ejgayehu Taye | ETH | Hayward Field, Eugene (USA) | 27 May 2022 |
| 2021 | 14:13.32 | Gudaf Tsegay | ETH | FBK Stadium, Hengelo (NED) | 08 Jun 2021 |
| 2020 | 14:06.62 | Letesenbet Gidey | ETH | Estadio de Atletismo del Turia, Valencia (ESP) | 07 Oct 2020 |
| 2019 | 14:20.36 | Hellen Obiri | KEN | Olympic Stadium, London (GBR) | 21 Jul 2019 |
| 2018 | 14:21.75 | Hellen Obiri | KEN | Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat (MAR) | 13 Jul 2018 |
| 2017 | 14:18.37 | Hellen Obiri | KEN | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) | 08 Jun 2017 |
| 2016 | 14:12.59 | Almaz Ayana | ETH | Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA) | 02 Jun 2016 |
| 2015 | 14:14.32 | Almaz Ayana | ETH | Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai (CHN) | 17 May 2015 |