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The 10,000 metres or the 10,000-metre run is a common long-distance track running event. The event is part of the athletics programme at the Olympic Games and the World Athletics Championships, and is common at championship-level events. The race consists of 25 laps around an Olympic-sized 400 m track. It is less commonly held at track and field meetings due to its duration. The 10,000-metre track race is usually distinguished from its road running counterpart, the 10K run, by referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres.

Quick Facts Athletics, World records ...
Athletics
10,000 metres
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10,000 metres at 2000 Summer Olympics, Sydney
World records
Men Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 26:11.00 (2020)
Women Beatrice Chebet (KEN) 28:54.14 (2024)
Olympic records
Men Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) 26:43.14 (2024)
Women Almaz Ayana (ETH) 29:17.45 (2016)
World Championship records
Men Kenenisa Bekele (ETH) 26:46.31 (2009)
Women Berhane Adere (ETH) 30:04.18 (2003)
World junior (U20) records
Men Samuel Wanjiru (KEN) 26:41.75 (2005)
Women Linet Masai (KEN) 30:26.50 (2008)
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The 10,000 metres is the longest standard track event, approximately equivalent to 6 miles 376 yards or 32,808 feet 5 inches.

Thumb
Taisto Mäki from Finland breaks the 30-minute barrier in Helsinki on 17 September 1939.

Added to the Olympic programme in 1912, athletes from Finland, nicknamed the "Flying Finns", dominated the event until the late 1940s. In the 1960s, African runners began to come to the fore.[1] In 1988, the women's competition debuted in the Olympic Games.

Official records are kept for outdoor 10,000-metre track events. The world record for men is held by Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda in 26:11.00, set in Valencia, Spain on 7 October 2020. For women, the world record is held by Beatrice Chebet of Kenya, in 28:54.14, set in Eugene, Oregon, on 25 May 2024.[2]

The 10,000 metres demands exceptional levels of aerobic endurance, and elite athletes typically train in excess of 160 km (100 miles) a week.[3]

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6 miles

10,000 metres is the slightly longer metric derivative of the 6-mile (9,656.1-metre) run, an event common in countries when they were using the imperial measurement system. 6 miles was used in the Commonwealth Games until 1966 and was a championship in the United States in non-Olympic years from 1953 to 1973. It is 24 laps around a 14-mile (402 m; 440 yd; 1,320 ft) track.

Continental records

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All-time top 25

Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 10,000m times and the top 25 athletes:
- denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 10,000m times
- denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 10,000m times, by repeat athletes
- denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 10,000m times

Men

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Kenenisa Bekele (right), the former 10,000 m world record holder.
  • Correct as of June 2024.[6]
More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.#Perf.#TimeAthleteNationDatePlaceRef.
1126:11.00Joshua Cheptegei Uganda7 October 2020Valencia[7]
2226:17.53Kenenisa Bekele Ethiopia26 August 2005Brussels
326:20.31Bekele #28 June 2004Ostrava
3426:22.75Haile Gebrselassie Ethiopia1 June 1998Hengelo
526:25.97Bekele #38 June 2008Eugene
4626:27.85Paul Tergat Kenya22 August 1997Brussels
726:28.72Bekele #429 May 2005Hengelo
826:29.22Gebrselassie #25 September 2003Brussels
5926:30.03Nicholas Kemboi Kenya5 September 2003Brussels
61026:30.74Abebe Dinkesa Ethiopia29 May 2005Hengelo
71126:31.01Yomif Kejelcha Ethiopia14 June 2024Nerja[8]
81226:31.13Berihu Aregawi Ethiopia14 June 2024Nerja[8]
1326:31.32Gebrselassie #34 July 1997Oslo
9 14 26:33.84 Grant Fisher United States 6 March 2022 San Juan Capistrano [9]
10 15 26:33.93 Jacob Kiplimo Uganda 19 May 2021 Ostrava [10]
11 16 26:34.14 Mohammed Ahmed Canada 6 March 2022 San Juan Capistrano [9]
1217 26:34.93Selemon Barega  Ethiopia14 June 2024Nerja[8]
13 18 26:35.63Micah Kogo Kenya 25 August 2006 Brussels
14 19 26:36.26Paul Koech Kenya 22 August 1997 Brussels
15 20 26:37.25Zersenay Tadese Eritrea 25 August 2006 Brussels
162126:37.93Biniam Mehary Ethiopia14 June 2024Nerja[8]
17 22 26:38.08Salah Hissou Morocco 23 August 1996 Brussels
18 23 26:38.76Ahmad Abdullah Hassan Qatar 5 September 2003 Brussels
19 24 26:39.69Sileshi Sihine Ethiopia31 May 2004Hengelo
20 25 26:39.77Boniface Toroitich Kiprop Uganda26 August 2005Brussels
2126:41.75Samuel Wanjiru Kenya26 August 2005Brussels
22 26:42.65 Gemechu Dida  Ethiopia 14 June 2024 Nerja
23 26:43.98Lucas Rotich Kenya7 September 2011Brussels
24 26:44.36Galen Rupp United States30 May 2014Eugene
25 26:45.91 Tadese Worku  Ethiopia 5 May 2022 Hengelo
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Women

More information Ath.#, Perf.# ...
Ath.#Perf.#TimeAthleteNationDatePlaceRef.
1128:54.14Beatrice Chebet Kenya25 May 2024Eugene[12]
2229:01.03Letesenbet Gidey Ethiopia8 June 2021Hengelo[13]
3329:05.92Gudaf Tsegay Ethiopia25 May 2024Eugene[12]
4429:06.82Sifan Hassan Netherlands6 June 2021Hengelo[14]
5529:17.45Almaz Ayana Ethiopia12 August 2016Rio de Janeiro[15]
6629:26.89Lilian Rengeruk Kenya25 May 2024Eugene[16]
7729:27.59Margaret Kipkemboi Kenya25 May 2024Eugene[17]
829:29.73Tsegay #223 June 2023Nerja[18]
8929:31.78Wang Junxia China8 September 1993Beijing
91029:32.53Vivian Cheruiyot Kenya12 August 2016Rio de Janeiro[15]
1129:36.67Hassan #210 October 2020Hengelo
12 29:37.80 Hassan #3 3 June 2023 Hengelo [19]
1329:39.42Tsegay #38 May 2021Maia[20]
10 14 29:42.56 Tirunesh Dibaba Ethiopia 12 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [15]
11 15 29:47.42 Grace Loibach Nawowuna  Kenya 3 June 2023 Hengelo [19]
12 16 29:47.71 Fotyen Tesfay  Ethiopia 14 June 2024 Nerja [8]
13 17 29:48.34 Tsigie Gebreselama  Ethiopia 16 March 2024 San Juan Capistrano [21]
1829:49.33Gebreselama #214 June 2024Nerja[8]
14 19 29:50.52 Ejgayehu Taye  Ethiopia 14 June 2024 Nerja [8]
15 20 29:50.77 Kalkidan Gezahegne Bahrain 8 May 2021 Maia [20]
16 21 29:53.51 Alice Aprot Nawowuna Kenya 12 August 2016 Rio de Janeiro [15]
17 22 29:53.80Meselech Melkamu Ethiopia14 June 2009Utrecht
2329:54.66Dibaba #215 August 2008Beijing
2429:55.32Hassan #47 August 2021Tokyo
2529:56.18Gezahegne #27 August 2021Tokyo
18 29:59.03Mizan Alem Ethiopia20 May 2023London[22]
19 29:59.15 Lemlem Hailu  Ethiopia 23 June 2023 Nerja [18]
20 29:59.20Meseret Defar Ethiopia11 July 2009Birmingham
21 30:00.86 Eilish McColgan  Great Britain 4 March 2023 San Juan Capistrano [23]
22 30:01.09Paula Radcliffe Great Britain6 August 2002Munich
23 30:03.82 Alicia Monson  United States 4 March 2023 San Juan Capistrano [23]
24 30:04.18Berhane Adere Ethiopia23 August 2003Saint-Denis
25 30:04.97Janeth Chepngetich Kenya25 May 2024Eugene[17]
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Annulled marks

Olympic medalists

Men

More information Games, Gold ...
Games Gold Silver Bronze
1912 Stockholm
details
Hannes Kolehmainen
 Finland
Lewis Tewanima
 United States
Albin Stenroos
 Finland
1920 Antwerp
details
Paavo Nurmi
 Finland
Joseph Guillemot
 France
James Wilson
 Great Britain
1924 Paris
details
Ville Ritola
 Finland
Edvin Wide
 Sweden
Eero Berg
 Finland
1928 Amsterdam
details
Paavo Nurmi
 Finland
Ville Ritola
 Finland
Edvin Wide
 Sweden
1932 Los Angeles
details
Janusz Kusociński
 Poland
Volmari Iso-Hollo
 Finland
Lasse Virtanen
 Finland
1936 Berlin
details
Ilmari Salminen
 Finland
Arvo Askola
 Finland
Volmari Iso-Hollo
 Finland
1948 London
details
Emil Zátopek
 Czechoslovakia
Alain Mimoun
 France
Bertil Albertsson
 Sweden
1952 Helsinki
details
Emil Zátopek
 Czechoslovakia
Alain Mimoun
 France
Aleksandr Anufriyev
 Soviet Union
1956 Melbourne
details
Vladimir Kuts
 Soviet Union
József Kovács
 Hungary
Al Lawrence
 Australia
1960 Rome
details
Pyotr Bolotnikov
 Soviet Union
Hans Grodotzki
 United Team of Germany
Dave Power
 Australia
1964 Tokyo
details
Billy Mills
 United States
Mohammed Gammoudi
 Tunisia
Ron Clarke
 Australia
1968 Mexico City
details
Naftali Temu
 Kenya
Mamo Wolde
 Ethiopia
Mohammed Gammoudi
 Tunisia
1972 Munich
details
Lasse Virén
 Finland
Emiel Puttemans
 Belgium
Miruts Yifter
 Ethiopia
1976 Montreal
details
Lasse Virén
 Finland
Carlos Lopes
 Portugal
Brendan Foster
 Great Britain
1980 Moscow
details
Miruts Yifter
 Ethiopia
Kaarlo Maaninka
 Finland
Mohamed Kedir
 Ethiopia
1984 Los Angeles
details
Alberto Cova
 Italy
Mike McLeod
 Great Britain
Michael Musyoki
 Kenya
1988 Seoul
details
Brahim Boutayeb
 Morocco
Salvatore Antibo
 Italy
Kipkemboi Kimeli
 Kenya
1992 Barcelona
details
Khalid Skah
 Morocco
Richard Chelimo
 Kenya
Addis Abebe
 Ethiopia
1996 Atlanta
details
Haile Gebrselassie
 Ethiopia
Paul Tergat
 Kenya
Saleh Hissou
 Morocco
2000 Sydney
details
Haile Gebrselassie
 Ethiopia
Paul Tergat
 Kenya
Assefa Mezgebu
 Ethiopia
2004 Athens
details
Kenenisa Bekele
 Ethiopia
Sileshi Sihine
 Ethiopia
Zersenay Tadese
 Eritrea
2008 Beijing
details
Kenenisa Bekele
 Ethiopia
Sileshi Sihine
 Ethiopia
Micah Kogo
 Kenya
2012 London
details
Mo Farah
 Great Britain
Galen Rupp
 United States
Tariku Bekele
 Ethiopia
2016 Rio de Janeiro
details
Mo Farah
 Great Britain
Paul Tanui
 Kenya
Tamirat Tola
 Ethiopia
2020 Tokyo
details
Selemon Barega
 Ethiopia
Joshua Cheptegei
 Uganda
Jacob Kiplimo
 Uganda
2024 Paris
details
Joshua Cheptegei
 Uganda
Berihu Aregawi
 Ethiopia
Grant Fisher
 United States
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Women

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World Championships medalists

Men

More information Championships, Gold ...
Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1983 Helsinki
details
 Alberto Cova (ITA)  Werner Schildhauer (GDR)  Hansjörg Kunze (GDR)
1987 Rome
details
 Paul Kipkoech (KEN)  Francesco Panetta (ITA)  Hansjörg Kunze (GDR)
1991 Tokyo
details
 Moses Tanui (KEN)  Richard Chelimo (KEN)  Khalid Skah (MAR)
1993 Stuttgart
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Moses Tanui (KEN)  Richard Chelimo (KEN)
1995 Gothenburg
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Khalid Skah (MAR)  Paul Tergat (KEN)
1997 Athens
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Paul Tergat (KEN)  Salah Hissou (MAR)
1999 Seville
details
 Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Paul Tergat (KEN)  Assefa Mezgebu (ETH)
2001 Edmonton
details
 Charles Kamathi (KEN)  Assefa Mezgebu (ETH)  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Haile Gebrselassie (ETH)  Sileshi Sihine (ETH)
2005 Helsinki
details
 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Sileshi Sihine (ETH)  Moses Mosop (KEN)
2007 Osaka
details
 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Sileshi Sihine (ETH)  Martin Mathathi (KEN)
2009 Berlin
details
 Kenenisa Bekele (ETH)  Zersenay Tadese (ERI)  Moses Ndiema Masai (KEN)
2011 Daegu
details
 Ibrahim Jeilan (ETH)  Mo Farah (GBR)  Imane Merga (ETH)
2013 Moscow
details
 Mo Farah (GBR)  Ibrahim Jeilan (ETH)  Paul Tanui (KEN)
2015 Beijing
details
 Mo Farah (GBR)  Geoffrey Kamworor (KEN)  Paul Tanui (KEN)
2017 London
details
 Mo Farah (GBR)  Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)  Paul Tanui (KEN)
2019 Doha
details
 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)  Yomif Kejelcha (ETH)  Rhonex Kipruto (KEN)
2022 Eugene
details
 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)  Stanley Mburu (KEN)  Jacob Kiplimo (UGA)
2023 Budapest
details
 Joshua Cheptegei (UGA)  Daniel Ebenyo (KEN)  Selemon Barega (ETH)
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Women

More information Championships, Gold ...
Championships Gold Silver Bronze
1987 Rome
details
 Ingrid Kristiansen (NOR)  Yelena Zhupiyeva-Vyazova (URS)  Kathrin Weßel (GDR)
1991 Tokyo
details
 Liz McColgan (GBR)  Zhong Huandi (CHN)  Wang Xiuting (CHN)
1993 Stuttgart
details
 Wang Junxia (CHN)  Zhong Huandi (CHN)  Sally Barsosio (KEN)
1995 Gothenburg
details
 Fernanda Ribeiro (POR)  Derartu Tulu (ETH)  Tegla Loroupe (KEN)
1997 Athens
details
 Sally Barsosio (KEN)  Fernanda Ribeiro (POR)  Masako Chiba (JPN)
1999 Seville
details
 Gete Wami (ETH)  Paula Radcliffe (GBR)  Tegla Loroupe (KEN)
2001 Edmonton
details
 Derartu Tulu (ETH)  Berhane Adere (ETH)  Gete Wami (ETH)
2003 Saint-Denis
details
 Berhane Adere (ETH)  Werknesh Kidane (ETH)  Sun Yingjie (CHN)
2005 Helsinki
details
 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Berhane Adere (ETH)  Ejegayehu Dibaba (ETH)
2007 Osaka
details
 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Kara Goucher (USA)  Jo Pavey (GBR)
2009 Berlin
details
 Linet Masai (KEN)  Meselech Melkamu (ETH)  Wude Ayalew (ETH)
2011 Daegu
details
 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)  Sally Kipyego (KEN)  Linet Masai (KEN)
2013 Moscow
details
 Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Gladys Cherono Kiprono (KEN)  Belaynesh Oljira (ETH)
2015 Beijing
details
 Vivian Cheruiyot (KEN)  Gelete Burka (ETH)  Emily Infeld (USA)
2017 London
details
 Almaz Ayana (ETH)  Tirunesh Dibaba (ETH)  Agnes Tirop (KEN)
2019 Doha
details
 Sifan Hassan (NED)  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)  Agnes Tirop (KEN)
2022 Eugene
details
 Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)  Hellen Obiri (KEN)  Margaret Kipkemboi (KEN)
2023 Budapest
details
 Gudaf Tsegay (ETH)  Letesenbet Gidey (ETH)  Ejgayehu Taye (ETH)
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European Championships medalists

Men

Women

Season's bests

More information Year, Time ...
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Competitions

References

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