The official world records in the 5000 metres, or 5000-metre run, are held by Joshua Cheptegei with 12:35.36 for men and Beatrice Chebet with 13:58.06 for women.
The first world record in the men's 5000 m was recognized by World Athletics (formerly called the International Association of Athletics Federations, or IAAF) in 1912. As of January 2024, 36 world records have been ratified by World Athletics in the event.
The first world record in the women's 5000 m was recognized by the IAAF in 1981. As of January 2024, 16 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event.
Men
Pre-World Athletics TimeAthleteDateLocation16:34.61897-10-31Paris, France16:29.21899-05-22Lyon, France15:29.81900-07-22Paris, France14:59.01904-06-13Glasgow, United Kingdom
World Athletics era Ratified Not ratified Ratified but later rescinded Pending ratification
TimeAthleteDateLocation14:36.61912-07-10Stockholm, Sweden14:35.41922-09-12Stockholm, Sweden14:28.21924-06-19Helsinki, Finland14:17.01932-06-19Helsinki, Finland14:08.81939-06-16Helsinki, Finland13:58.21942-09-20Gothenburg, Sweden13:57.21954-05-30Paris, France13:56.61954-08-29Bern, Switzerland13:51.61954-10-13London, United Kingdom13:51.21954-10-23Prague, Czechoslovakia13:50.81955-09-10Budapest, Hungary13:46.81955-09-18Belgrade, Yugoslavia13:40.61955-10-23Budapest, Hungary13:36.81956-06-19Bergen, Norway13:35.01957-10-13Rome, Italy13:34.81965-01-16Hobart, Australia13:33.61965-02-01Auckland, New Zealand13:25.81965-06-04Compton, USA13:24.21965-11-30Auckland, New Zealand13:16.61966-07-05Stockholm, Sweden13:16.41972-09-14Helsinki, Finland13:13.01972-09-20Brussels, Belgium13:12.91977-07-05Stockholm, Sweden13:08.41978-04-08Berkeley, California, USA13:06.201981-09-13Knarvik, Norway13:00.411982-07-07Oslo, Norway13:00.401985-07-27Oslo, Norway12:58.391987-07-27Rome, Italy12:56.961994-06-04Hengelo, Netherlands12:55.301995-06-08Rome, Italy12:44.391995-08-16Zürich, Switzerland12:41.861997-08-13Zürich, Switzerland12:39.741997-08-22Brussels, Belgium12:39.361998-06-13Helsinki, Finland12:37.352004-05-31Hengelo, Netherlands12:35.362020-08-14Monaco
Auto times to the hundredth of a second were accepted by the IAAF for events up to and including 10,000m from 1981. Dick Quax's 13:12.9 from 1977 was recorded as 13:12.87 to the hundredth of a second.
Women
Pre-recognition TimeAthleteDateLocation16:17.4 1969-05-11 Formia, Italy15:53.6 1969-09-02 Milan, Italy15:41.4 1977-03-16 Oradea, Romania15:37.0 1977-07-11 Mainz, Germany15:35.52 1978-05-26 Knoxville, United States15:08.8 1978-05-30 Sollerod, Denmark15:33.8 1979-05-19 Durham, United States15:30.6 1980-03-22 Stanford, United States15:28.43 1981-07-11 Oslo, Norway15:24.6 1981-09-06 Podolsk, Soviet Union
Note: Loa Olfsson's mark was achieved in a mixed race with men.
World Athletics world records
TimeAthleteDateLocation15:14.511981-09-13Knarvik, Norway15:13.221982-03-17Auckland, New Zealand15:08.261982-06-05Eugene, Oregon, United States15:01.83 1984-01-05Stellenbosch, South Africa14:58.891984-06-28Oslo, Norway14:48.071985-08-26London, United Kingdom14:37.331986-08-05Stockholm, Sweden14:36.451995-07-22Hechtel, Belgium14:31.271997-10-21Shanghai, China14:28.091997-10-23Shanghai, China14:24.682004-06-11Bergen, Norway14:24.532006-06-03New York, United States14:16.632007-06-15Oslo, Norway14:11.152008-06-06Oslo, Norway14:06.622020-10-07Valencia, Spain14:05.202023-06-09Paris, France 14:00.212023-09-17Eugene, Oregon13:58.062025-07-05Eugene, Oregon
References