The 800 metres is a common track running event. It is the shortest commonly run middle-distance running event, run over two laps of an outdoor (400-metre) track and has been an Olympic event since the first modern games in 1896. During the winter track season the event is usually run by completing four laps of an indoor 200-metre track.
The event was derived from the imperial measurement of a half mile (880 yards), a traditional British racing distance. 800 m is 4.67 m less than a half mile.
The event combines aerobic endurance with anaerobic conditioning and sprint speed, so the 800m athlete has to combine training for both.
Runners in this event are occasionally fast enough to also compete in the 400 metres but more commonly have enough endurance to 'double up' in the 1500m. Only Alberto Juantorena and Jarmila Kratochvílová have won major international titles at 400m and 800m.
Race tactics The 800m is also known for its tactical racing. Because it is the shortest middle-distance event that has all the runners converge into one lane (after the first bend), positioning on the cut-in and the position of the pack is critical to the outcome of the race. Gaining a front position early in the race is often advantageous as there are occasionally trips when running in a pack. Olympic champions Dave Wottle, Kelly Holmes and others have defied that logic by running a more evenly paced race, lagging behind the pack and accelerating past the slowing early leaders. Often the winner of elite 800m races is not the fastest runner, but the athlete best positioned near the end of the race: an athlete directly behind another runner, has to switch to an outer lane to overtake, so has to run farther—and might be blocked by a third runner alongside.
800 metre participants usually run a positive split, where the first lap is faster, but a negative split is occasionally run as a tactic. The current world record (by David Rudisha) was run with a positive split in the 2012 Olympics. Rudisha ran the first lap in 49.28 seconds and the second in 51.63 seconds. Theoretically, an even split is the most efficient running mode, but it is difficult to pace correctly.
In 2024, the race tactics in the men's 800m shifted toward a more evenly paced race. All fifteen sub-1:42 performances prior to 2024 featured a sub 50 second first lap. However, of the twelve sub-1:42 performances in 2024, six featured a first lap of 50 seconds or slower.
Area records Updated 29 June 2026.
Area Men Women Time Season Athlete Time Season Athlete World 1:40.91 2012 1:53.28 1983 Area records Africa 1:40.91 2012 1:54.01 2008 Asia 1:42.79 2008 1:55.54 1993 Europe 1:41.11 1997 1:53.28 1983 North, Central Americaand Caribbean 1:41.20 2024 1:54.44 1989 Oceania 1:42.55 2025 1:57.01 2026 South America 1:41.77 1984 1:56.68 1995
All-time top 25
Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 800m times and the top 25 athletes:- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 800m times- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 800m times, by repeat athletes- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 800m times
Men (outdoor) Correct as of August 2026. Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 1:40.91 David Rudisha 9 August 2012 London 2 1:41.01 Rudisha #2 29 August 2010 Rieti 3 1:41.09 Rudisha #3 22 August 2010 Berlin 2 4 1:41.11 Wilson Kipketer 24 August 1997 Cologne Emmanuel Wanyonyi22 August 2024Lausanne 6 1:41.19 Wanyonyi #2 10 August 2024 Saint-Denis4 71:41.20Marco Arop10 August 2024Saint-Denis 8 1:41.24 Kipketer #2 13 August 1997 Zürich 9 1:41.33 Rudisha #4 10 September 2011 Rieti101:41.44Wanyonyi #311 July 2025Monaco5111:41.46Djamel Sedjati12 July 2024Monaco121:41.50Sedjati #210 August 2024Saint-Denis13 1:41.51 Rudisha #5 10 July 2010 Heusden-Zolder14 1:41.54 Rudisha #6 6 July 2012 Paris 151:41.56 Sedjati #37 July 2024Paris161:41.58Wanyonyi #47 July 2024Paris6171:41.61Gabriel Tual7 July 2024Paris7 18 1:41.67 Bryce Hoppel 10 August 2024Saint-Denis191:41.70Wanyonyi #515 June 2024Nairobi201:41.72Arop #222 August 2024Lausanne8 21 1:41.73 Sebastian Coe 10 June 1981 Florence 21 1:41.73 Kipketer #3 7 July 1997 Stockholm8 21 1:41.73 Nijel Amos 9 August 2012 London 24 1:41.74 Rudisha #7 9 June 2012 New York City251:41.76Wanyonyi #627 August 2026Zurich10 1:41.77 Joaquim Cruz 26 August 1984 Cologne111:42.01Josh Hoey11 July 2025Monaco12 1:42.04 Mohamed Attaoui 12 July 2024 Monaco13 1:42.05 Emmanuel Korir 22 July 2018 London 141:42.08Aaron Kemei Cheminingwa7 July 2024ParisWyclife Kinyamal7 July 2024ParisCooper Lutkenhaus10 June 2026Oslo171:42.15Cian McPhillips20 September 2025Tokyo181:42.16Donavan Brazier3 August 2025Eugene191:42.19Brandon Miller18 July 2026London20 1:42.23 Abubaker Kaki 4 June 2010 Oslo 21 1:42.27 Ben Pattison 12 July 2024 Monaco 22 1:42.28 Sammy Koskei 26 August 1984 Cologne 23 1:42.29 Max Burgin 20 September 2025 Tokyo24 1:42.34 Wilfred Bungei 8 September 2002 Rieti25 1:42.37 Mohammed Aman 6 September 2013 Brussels
Women (outdoor) Updated August 2026.
Time Athlete Nation Date Place 1 1 1:53.28 Jarmila Kratochvílová 26 July 1983 Munich 2 2 1:53.43 Nadezhda Olizarenko 27 July 1980 Moscow 331:53.70Audrey Werro27 August 2026Zurich41:53.80Werro #228 June 2026Paris"Results – 800m Women", Diamond League, 28 June 2026. Retrieved 28 June 2026.51:53.98Werro #37 June 2026Stockholm 4 6 1:54.01 Pamela Jelimo 29 August 2008 Zurich 5 7 1:54.25 Caster Semenya 30 June 2018 Paris 681:54.33Keely Hodgkinson7 June 2026Stockholm 7 9 1:54.44 Ana Fidelia Quirot 9 September 1989 Barcelona 101:54.45Werro #416 June 2026Ostrava11 1:54.60 Semenya #2 20 July 2018 Monaco 121:54.61Hodgkinson #220 July 2024London8131:54.62Lilian Odira21 September 2025Tokyo14 1:54.68 Kratochvílová #2 9 August 1983 Helsinki 9 151:54.71Femke Broeders-Bol27 August 2026Zurich161:54.74Hodgkinson #316 August 2025Chorzów171:54.75Werro #55 September 2026Brussels18 1:54.77 Semenya #3 9 September 2018 Ostrava 10 19 1:54.81 Olga Mineyeva 27 July 1980 Moscow 19 1:54.81 Werro #6 14 August 2026 Birmingham "European Athletics Championships – Alexander Stadium, Birmingham (GBR) – 10–16 AUG 2026 – GL", World Athletics. Retrieved 15 August 2026.Broeders-Bol #25 September 2026Brussels22 1:54.82 Quirot #2 24 August 1997 Cologne 23 1:54.85 Olizarenko #2 12 June 1980 Moscow 24 1:54.87 Jelimo #2 18 August 2008 Beijing 11251:54.90Georgia Hunter Bell21 September 2025Tokyo12 1:54.94 Tatyana Kazankina 26 July 1976 Montreal 13 1:54.97 Athing Mu 17 September 2023 Eugene14 1:55.05 Doina Melinte 1 August 1982 Bucharest 15 1:55.19 Maria Mutola 17 August 1994 Zurich Jolanda Čeplak 20 July 2002 Heusden-Zolder 17 1:55.26 Sigrun Wodars 31 August 1987 Rome 18 1:55.32 Christine Wachtel 31 August 1987 Rome 19 1:55.42 Nikolina Shtereva 26 July 1976 Montreal 20 1:55.46 Tatyana Providokhina 27 July 1980 Moscow 21 1:55.47 Francine Niyonsaba 21 July 2017 Monaco 22 1:55.54 Ellen van Langen 3 August 1992 Barcelona Liu Dong 9 September 1993 Beijing 24 1:55.56 Lyubov Gurina 31 August 1987 Rome 25 1:55.60 Elfi Zinn 26 July 1976 Montreal
Annulled marks Yelena Soboleva (Russia) ran 1:54.85 in Kazan on 18 July 2007, but her performance was annulled due to doping offences.
Men (indoor) Updated March 2026.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace 111:42.50Josh Hoey24 January 2026Boston22 1:42.67 Wilson Kipketer 9 March 1997 Paris 31:43.24Hoey #223 February 2025New York City34 1:43.63 Elliot Giles 17 February 2021 Toruń 451:43.83Eliott Crestan3 February 2026Ostrava61:43.90Hoey #38 February 2025New York City71:43.91Crestan #219 February 2026Liévin81:43.96Kipketer #27 March 1997Paris59 1:43.98 Michael Saruni 9 February 2019 New York City6101:44.03Cooper Lutkenhaus14 February 2026Winston-Salem7111:44.07Maciej Wyderka3 February 2026Ostrava111:44.07Crestan #322 February 2026Toruń813 1:44.15 Yuriy Borzakovskiy 27 January 2001 Karlsruhe9141:44.19Bryce Hoppel8 February 2025New York City1015 1:44.21 Emmanuel Korir 3 February 2018 New York City Donavan Brazier 13 February 2021 New York City 171:44.22Brazier #28 February 2020New York City12181:44.23Mark English3 February 2026Ostrava191:44.24Lutkenhaus #222 March 2026Toruń13201:44.26Brandon Miller23 February 2025New York City211:44.30Wyderka #222 February 2026Toruń221:44.34Borzakovskiy #218 February 2003Stockholm231:44.35Borzakovskiy #330 January 2000Dortmund24 1:44.37 Hoppel #2 31 January 2021 Fayetteville 251:44.38Crestan #422 March 2026Toruń14 1:44.52 Mohammed Aman 15 February 2014 Birmingham15 1:44.54 Jamie Webb 17 February 2021 Toruń16 1:44.57 Adam Kszczot 14 February 2012 Liévin 171:44.65Josué Canales19 January 2025Luxembourg181:44.67Mohamed Ali Gouaned8 February 2026Metz191:44.68Filip Ostrowski24 January 2026Boston201:44.70Colin Sahlman1 February 2026New York City21 1:44.71 Joseph Mutua 31 January 2004 Stuttgart 221:44.72Ryan Clarke24 January 2026Boston231:44.73Handal Roban14 February 2026Winston-Salem24 1:44.75 Ismail Ahmed Ismail 26 February 2009 Prague Samuel Chapple3 February 2026OstravaNavasky Anderson22 February 2026Toruń
Women (indoor) Updated March 2026.
TimeAthleteNationDatePlace 111:54.87Keely Hodgkinson19 February 2026Liévin21:55.30Hodgkinson #222 March 2026Toruń23 1:55.82 Jolanda Čeplak 3 March 2002 Vienna34 1:55.85 Stephanie Graf 3 March 2002 Vienna51:56.33Hodgkinson #314 February 2026Birmingham46 1:56.40 Christine Wachtel 13 February 1988 Vienna57 1:56.64 Audrey Werro 22 March 2026 Toruń 81:56.85Graf #210 February 2002Ghent69 1:56.90 Ludmila Formanová 7 March 1999 Maebashi710 1:57.06 Maria Mutola 21 February 1999 Liévin111:57.13Mutola #218 February 1996Liévin121:57.17Mutola #37 March 1999Maebashi131:57.18Čeplak #210 February 2002GhentHodgkinson #425 February 2023Birmingham151:57.20Hodgkinson #519 February 2022Birmingham816 1:57.23 Inna Yevseyeva 1 February 1992 Moscow171:57.27Werro #211 February 2026Belgrade9181:57.43Isabelle Boffey30 January 2026Boston1019 1:57.47 Natalya Tsyganova 7 March 1999 Maebashi201:57.48Mutola #410 February 2002GhentMutola #515 February 2004Karlsruhe221:57.49Werro #31 February 2026Val-de-Reuil1123 1:57.51 Olga Kotlyarova 18 February 2006 Moscow1224 1:57.52 Gudaf Tsegay 14 February 2021 Val-de-Reuil1325 1:57.53 Larisa Chzhao 23 January 2005 Moscow 251:57.53Graf #325 February 2001Liévin14 1:57.67 Sigrun Wodars 13 February 1988 Vienna15 1:57.80 Georgia Hunter Bell 1 March 2026 Glasgow161:57.86Habitam Alemu6 February 2024Toruń17 1:57.91 Jemma Reekie 1 February 2020 Glasgow181:57.97Roisin Willis30 January 2026Boston19 1:58.10 Mariya Savinova 8 March 2009 Turin20 1:58.14 Yuliya Stepanova 17 February 2011 Moscow21 1:58.29 Ajeé Wilson 8 February 2020 New York City22 1:58.31 Francine Niyonsaba 4 March 2018 Birmingham23 1:58.34 Svetlana Cherkasova 4 February 2006 Moscow241:58.35Tsige Duguma2 March 2024Glasgow25 1:58.36 Addison Wiley 22 March 2026 Toruń
U20 records and U18 world bests Updated 3 August 2025. Age group Men Women Time Athlete Nation Time Athlete Nation U20 1:41.73 Nijel Amos 1:54.01 Pamela Jelimo U18 1:42.27 Cooper Lutkenhaus 1:57.18 Wang Yuan
Olympic medalists Men
Women
World Championships medalists Men
Women
World Indoor Championships medalists Men 1985 Paris1987 Indianapolis1989 Budapest1991 Seville1993 Toronto1995 Barcelona1997 Paris1999 Maebashi2001 Lisbon2003 Birmingham2004 Budapest2006 Moscow2008 Valencia2010 Doha2012 Istanbul2014 Sopot2016 Portland2018 Birmingham2022 Belgrade2024 Glasgow2025 Nanjing2026 Toruń
Women 1985 Paris1987 Indianapolis1989 Budapest1991 Seville1993 Toronto1995 Barcelona1997 Paris1999 Maebashi2001 Lisbon2003 Birmingham2004 Budapest2006 Moscow2008 Valencia2010 Doha2012 Istanbul2014 Sopot2016 Portland2018 Birmingham2022 Belgrade2024 Glasgow2025 Nanjing2026 Toruń Known as the World Indoor Games
World leading times
Men