5000 metres
Long-distance track running event
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 12:35.36 (2020)
Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 13:58.06 (2025)
Grant Fisher (USA) 12:44.09 (2025)
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) 14:18.86 (2015)| 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 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
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
| 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
| 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)
- 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)
- 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)
- Updated 22 February 2026.[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 | 12:59.09 | Parker Wolfe | United States |
22 February 2026 | Boston | [46] |
| 21 | 12:59.43 | Jack Rayner | Australia |
21 February 2025 | Boston | [45] | |
| 22 | 12:59.77 | Gulveer Singh |  India |
21 February 2025 | Boston | [45] | |
| 23 | 12:59.89 | Graham Blanks | United States |
7 December 2024 | Boston | [47] | |
| 24 | 13:00.48 | Emmanuel Bor | United States |
12 February 2022 | Boston | ||
| 25 | 13:01.26 | Galen Rupp | United States |
16 January 2014 | Boston |
Women (indoor)
- Updated February 2026.[48]
| 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 | [49] |
| 10 | 13 | 14:43.25 | Fantaye Belayneh | Ethiopia |
27 January 2024 | Boston | [49] |
| 14 | 14:44.53 | T. Dibaba #4 | 6 February 2010 | Boston | |||
| 11 | 15 | 14:44.79 | Jane Hedengren | United States |
6 December 2025 | Boston | [50] |
| 12 | 16 | 14:44.94 | Aynadis Mebratu | Ethiopia |
27 January 2024 | Boston | [49] |
| 13 | 17 | 14:46.37 | Marta Garcia | Spain |
27 January 2024 | Boston | [49] |
| 14 | 18 | 14:46.51 | Josette Andrews | United States |
27 January 2024 | Boston | [49] |
| 15 | 19 | 14:46.80 | Sentayehu Ejigu | Ethiopia |
10 February 2010 | Stockholm | |
| 16 | 20 | 14:47.35 | Gabriela Szabo |  Romania |
13 February 1999 | Dortmund | |
| 21 | 14:47.62 | Ejigu #2 | 7 February 2009 | Boston | |||
| 17 | 22 | 14:47.62 | Shalane Flanagan | United States |
7 February 2009 | Boston | |
| 23 | 14:48.21 | Adere #2 | 5 February 2003 | Dortmund | |||
| 18 | 24 | 14:48.41 | Whittni Morgan | United States |
31 January 2025 | Boston | [51] |
| 19 | 25 | 14:48.51 | Vanessa Fraser | United States |
27 February 2020 | Boston | |
| 20 | 14:48.75 | Courtney Frerichs | United States |
11 February 2022 | Boston | ||
| 21 | 14:49.12 | Laura Muir | Great Britain |
4 January 2017 | Glasgow | ||
| 22 | 14:49.36 | Gete Wami | Ethiopia |
11 February 2001 | Dortmund | ||
| 23 | 14:49.78 | Courtney Wayment | United States |
27 January 2024 | Boston | [49] | |
| 24 | 14:50.89 | Ella Donaghu | United States |
31 January 2025 | Boston | [51] | |
| 25 | 14:51.21 | Doris Lemngole | Kenya |
14 February 2026 | Boston | [52] |
Olympic medalists
Men
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
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
Men
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
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.
