Photo: Sean Kelly MEP from Ireland—CC BY 2.0

Sonia O'Sullivan

IRLWomen

Birth dateNov 28, 1969

BirthplaceCobh, Ireland

Height1.73 m

Weight53 kg

Sonia O'Sullivan (born 28 November 1969) is an Irish former track and field athlete. She won a gold medal in the 5000 metres at the 1995 World Championships, and a silver medal in the 5000 metres at the 2000 Olympic Games. Her 2000 m world record of 5:25.36, set in 1994 stood until 2017.

O'Sullivan first came to prominence when winning the 1500 m at the 1991 Universiade, before going on to finish fourth in the 3000 m final at the 1992 Olympic Games. She then won a silver medal in the 1500 m at the 1993 World Championships. She was the favourite for the 5000 m title at the 1996 Olympic Games but dropped out of the final due to illness.

As well as her 1995 World title, she won three gold medals at the European Championships, in the 3000 m (1994), 5000 m (1998) and 10,000 m (1998), and is a two-time World Cross Country Champion. O'Sullivan won silver medals in the 5000 m and 10,000 m at the 2002 European Championships, and competed at her fourth Olympic Games in 2004. She is known for her dramatic kick, clocking 28-second final 200 m splits in some of her races. She is one of two women (the other Tirunesh Dibaba) who won the short and long course World Cross Country title at the same championship (1998 in Marrakesh).

Key facts

3000 m

8:21.64

#21 all-time

2000 Metres

5:25.36

2015 season best

3:03:39

Oct 26, 2015 · Dublin (IRL)

2015 season best

Medals

Olympic Games: 1 silver · World Championships: 1 gold, 1 silver

Record

Area record · 2000 Metres 5:25.36

Area record

Age

56 years old

As of Sep 12, 2026: 3000 m 8:21.64 (#21 all-time), 2000 Metres 5:25.36, 2015 season best 3:03:39 (Oct 26, 2015, Dublin (IRL)) · Olympic Games: 1 silver · World Championships: 1 gold, 1 silver · Area record (2000 Metres) · 56 years old

Personal bests

2:00.69

3:58.85

4:17.25

8:21.64

14:41.02

30:47.59

1:07:19

2:29:01

14:56

4:11.27

5:25.36

8:44.37

30:59

51:00

2:05.90

2:34.66

4:33.49

15:17.28

8:29.52

17:18.10

9:19.56

24:43

🏅

Medals

	🥇	🥈	🥉	Total
Olympic Games	-	1	-	1
World Championships	1	1	-	2
Total	1	2	-	3

Performance Charts

Season bests

Season	Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Trend	Competitions
2015	Marathon	3:03:39	-	Oct 26, 2015	↓	Dublin (IRL)
2014	1500m	4:58.51	-	Mar 20, 2014	↓	Melbourne (AUS)
2011	10Kilometr	39:03	-	Mar 27, 2011	↓	London (GBR)
2010	5Kilometre	17:46	-	Sep 5, 2010	↓	London (GBR)
2008	Semi	1:19:44	-	Sep 21, 2008	↓	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
2008	Marathon	2:52:50	-	Apr 21, 2008	↓	Boston Marathon
2007	3000m	9:04.5h	-	Feb 16, 2007	↓	Melbourne (AUS)
2007	5000m	16:04.39	-	Mar 2, 2007	↓	Melbourne (AUS)
2007	5Kilometre	16:49	-	Jun 3, 2007	↓	Wien (AUT)
2007	10Kilometr	37:04	-	Apr 15, 2007	↓	Dublin (IRL)
2007	Semi	1:15:52	-	Apr 29, 2007	↓	Annecy (FRA)
2006	5000m	15:44.24	-	Feb 4, 2006	↓	Australian Championships
2006	5Kilometre	16:38	-	Sep 3, 2006	↓	Liverpool (GBR)
2006	10Kilometr	34:58	-	Oct 8, 2006	↓	London (GBR)
2006	10MilesRoa	56:42	-	Oct 22, 2006	↓	Portsmouth (GBR)
2006	Marathon	2:42:05	-	Nov 5, 2006	↓	New York City Marathon
2005	3000m	9:05.94	-	Jul 2, 2005	↓	Cork (IRL)
2005	5Kilometre	16:10	-	Nov 5, 2005	↓	Noosa (AUS)
2005	10Kilometr	32:18	-	Apr 9, 2005	↓	Dublin (IRL)
2005	10MilesRoa	56:51	-	Oct 9, 2005	↓	Portsmouth (GBR)
2005	Semi	1:11:52	-	Dec 23, 2005	↓	Okayama (JPN)
2005	Marathon	2:29:01	-	Apr 17, 2005	↓	London Marathon
2004	800m	2:07.74	-	Jul 25, 2004	↓	Irish Championships
2004	1500m	4:15.59	-	Jun 27, 2004	↓	Gateshead (GBR)
2004	Mile	4:27.79	-	May 6, 2004	↑	Oxford (GBR)
2004	3000m	8:41.42	-	Aug 6, 2004	↓	Weltklasse Zürich
2004	5000m	14:58.43	-	Apr 30, 2004	↓	Palo Alto, CA (USA)
2004	5Kilometre	15:06	-	Sep 5, 2004	↓	London (GBR)
2004	10Kilometr	32:12	-	May 23, 2004	↓	Manchester (GBR)
2004	Semi	1:10:33	-	Oct 3, 2004	↓	New Delhi IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2003	800m-short-track	2:05.90	-	Feb 27, 2003	-	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
2003	800m	2:05.90	-	Feb 27, 2003	↓	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
2003	1500m	4:09.86	-	Jul 5, 2003	↓	Cork (IRL)
2003	3000m	8:37.55	-	Aug 15, 2003	↓	Weltklasse Zürich
2003	5000m	14:55.50	-	Aug 26, 2003	↓	IAAF World Championships
2003	5Kilometre	15:24	-	Sep 14, 2003	↓	London (GBR)
2003	CrossCount	22:36	-	Dec 14, 2003	↓	10th SPAR European Cross Country Championships, Edinburgh
2003	10Kilometr	32:00	-	May 26, 2003	↓	Manchester (GBR)
2003	10MilesRoa	53:26	-	Oct 12, 2003	↓	Portsmouth (GBR)
2003	Semi	1:08:40	-	Sep 22, 2003	↓	South Shields (GBR)
2002	800m	2:04.91	-	Jul 14, 2002	↓	Irish Championships
2002	1500m	4:05.94	-	Jun 22, 2002	↓	Solihull (GBR)
2002	3000m	8:33.62	-	Aug 16, 2002	↓	Weltklasse Zürich
2002	CrossCount	13:55	-	Mar 24, 2002	↓	30th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Dublin
2002	5000m	14:46.97	-	Aug 23, 2002	↓	London (GBR)
2002	5Kilometre	14:56	-	Sep 1, 2002	↓	London (GBR)
2002	10000m	30:47.59	-	Aug 6, 2002	↑	München European Championships, Olympiastadion, München
2002	10Kilometr	31:22	-	Jun 8, 2002	↓	New York, NY (USA)
2002	10MilesRoa	51:00	-	Sep 8, 2002	↓	Portsmouth (GBR)
2002	Semi	1:10:04	-	May 5, 2002	↓	Bruxelles IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
2002	Marathon	2:32:06	-	Nov 3, 2002	↓	New York Marathon
2001	1500m	4:06.34	-	Feb 16, 2001	↓	Sydney (AUS)
2001	1500m-short-track	4:11.27	-	Mar 10, 2001	-	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Atlantic Pavillion, Lisboa (i)
2001	3000m	8:43.51	-	Mar 1, 2001	↓	Melbourne (AUS)
2001	3000m-short-track	8:44.37	-	Mar 10, 2001	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships, Atlantic Pavillion, Lisboa (i)
2001	10Kilometr	32:35	-	May 20, 2001	↓	Glasgow (GBR)
2001	10MilesRoa	55:37	-	Jun 24, 2001	↓	Ballycotton (IRL)
2000	800m	2:04.66	-	Sep 10, 2000	↓	Brisbane (AUS)
2000	1500m	4:01.70	-	Jul 28, 2000	↓	Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games
2000	3000m	8:27.58	-	Aug 11, 2000	↓	Weltklasse Zürich
2000	5000m	14:41.02	-	Sep 25, 2000	↓	The XXVII Olympic Games
2000	4x1500Metr	17:19.09	-	Jun 25, 2000	↑	London (GBR)
2000	8Kilometre	24:43	-	Apr 22, 2000	-	Balmoral (GBR)
2000	CrossCount	26:20	-	Mar 18, 2000	↓	28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Vilamoura
2000	10000m	30:53.37	-	Sep 30, 2000	↑	The XXVII Olympic Games
2000	10Kilometr	30:59	-	May 21, 2000	↓	Milano (ITA)
2000	Marathon	2:35:42	-	Oct 30, 2000	↓	Dublin (IRL)
1999	Semi	1:10:05	-	Oct 10, 1999	↓	South Shields (GBR)
1998	1500m	4:01.05	-	Jun 9, 1998	↓	Bratislava (SVK)
1998	Mile	4:26.19	-	Jul 20, 1998	↑	New York, NY (USA)
1998	3000m	8:28.82	-	Jul 16, 1998	↓	Nice (FRA)
1998	2Miles	9:19.56	-	Jun 27, 1998	-	Cork City (IRL)
1998	5000m	14:51.61	-	Sep 1, 1998	↓	Berlin ISTAF
1998	CrossCount	25:39	-	Mar 21, 1998	↓	26th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Marrakech
1998	10000m	31:29.33	-	Aug 19, 1998	↑	Budapest European Championships, Népstadion, Budapest
1997	800m	2:03.18	-	Jan 27, 1997	↓	Sydney (AUS)
1997	1500m	4:05.31	-	Aug 3, 1997	↓	IAAF World Championships, Olympic Stadium, Athina
1997	3000m-short-track	8:46.19	-	Mar 8, 1997	↑	IAAF World Indoor Championships
1997	3000m	8:53.53	-	Jun 25, 1997	↓	Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, Paris (FRA) (i)
1997	5000m	15:10.98	-	Jan 11, 1997	↓	Canberra (AUS)
1997	CrossCount	21:25	-	Mar 23, 1997	↓	25th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Torino
1996	1500m	3:59.51	-	Jul 5, 1996	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1996	3000m	8:35.42	-	Jul 10, 1996	↓	Nice (FRA)
1996	5000m	14:48.36	-	Jul 12, 1996	↓	London (GBR)
1995	1500m	3:58.85	-	Jul 25, 1995	↓	Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON)
1995	Mile	4:23.72	-	Jul 12, 1995	↑	Köln (GER)
1995	3000m	8:27.57	-	Aug 16, 1995	↓	Zürich (SUI)
1995	5000m	14:41.40	-	Sep 1, 1995	↓	Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER)
1994	800m	2:00.69	-	Jul 28, 1994	↓	St. Petersburg (RUS)
1994	1500m	3:59.10	-	Jul 18, 1994	↓	Nice (FRA)
1994	Mile	4:17.25	-	Jul 22, 1994	↑	Bislett Stadion, Oslo (NOR)
1994	2000m	5:25.36	-	Jul 8, 1994	↑	Edinburgh (GBR)
1994	3000m	8:21.64	-	Jul 15, 1994	↓	Crystal Palace, London (GBR)
1994	5000m	15:06.18	-	Aug 21, 1994	↓	Köln (GER)
1993	1000m	2:34.66	-	Jul 2, 1993	↑	Villeneuve d'Ascq (FRA)
1993	1500m	3:59.60	-	Aug 7, 1993	↓	Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON)
1993	Mile	4:22.94	-	Jun 9, 1993	↑	Stadio Olimpico, Roma (ITA)
1993	3000m	8:28.74	-	Jul 10, 1993	↓	Oslo (NOR)
1993	5000m	14:45.92	-	Aug 27, 1993	↓	Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER)
1993	5Kilometre	15:51	-	Mar 28, 1993	↓	Carlsbad, CA (USA)
1993	CrossCount	17:16	-	Jan 2, 1993	↓	-
1992	800m	2:03.39	-	Sep 6, 1992	↓	Rieti (ITA)
1992	1500m	4:01.23	-	Aug 19, 1992	↓	Zürich (SUI)
1992	Mile	4:24.27	-	Aug 14, 1992	↑	Sheffield (GBR)
1992	3000m	8:37.92	-	Aug 16, 1992	↓	Köln (GER)
1992	5000m	14:59.11	-	Aug 21, 1992	↓	Olympiastadion, Berlin (GER)
1992	5000m-short-track	15:35.60	-	Jan 31, 1992	↓	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
1992	5Kilometre	15:42	-	Mar 29, 1992	↓	Carlsbad, CA (USA)
1992	CrossCount	21:37	-	Mar 21, 1992	↓	20th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
1991	1500m	4:05.81	-	Aug 3, 1991	↓	Stade Louis II, Monaco (MON)
1991	Mile	4:33.49	-	Jan 20, 1991	↑	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
1991	mile-short-track	4:33.49	-	Jan 20, 1991	-	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
1991	2000m	5:41.22	-	Jul 13, 1991	↑	London
1991	4x800Metre	8:29.52	-	Apr 24, 1991	-	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
1991	3000m	8:54.16	-	Aug 7, 1991	↓	Letzigrund, Zürich (SUI)
1991	5000m-short-track	15:17.28	-	Jan 26, 1991	↓	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
1991	5000m	15:26.9h	-	Jul 5, 1991	↓	Boston, MA (USA) (i)
1991	4x1500Metr	17:30.10	-	Apr 24, 1991	↑	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
1990	1000m	2:38.68	-	Jul 24, 1990	↑	Mansfield (GBR)
1990	1500m	4:11.20	-	Jul 28, 1990	↓	Wrexham (GBR)
1990	3000m	8:52.65	-	Aug 29, 1990	↓	Split European Championships
1990	4x1500Metr	17:18.10	-	Apr 27, 1990	↑	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
1989	1500m	4:16.39	-	May 13, 1989	↓	Fairfax, VA (USA)
1989	4x1500Metr	17:22.58	-	Apr 28, 1989	↑	Philadelphia, PA (USA)
1988	3000m	9:50.31	-	Jul 28, 1988	↓	Laurentian University Stadium, Sudbury (CAN)
1987	3000m	9:01.52	-	Jul 7, 1987	↓	Cork (IRL)

2015

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Marathon	3:03:39	-	Oct 26	Dublin Marathon, Dublin

2014

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
1500m	4:58.51	-	Mar 20	Melbourne VMC Meet, Melbourne

2011

1 performance

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
10Kilometr	39:03	-	Mar 27	London Newham London Run, London

2010

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
5Kilometre	18:11	-	Oct 30	Noosa Asics Bolt 5km, Noosa
5Kilometre	17:46	-	Sep 5	London adidas Women's 5-K Challenge, London

2008

2 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Semi	1:19:44	-	Sep 21	Philadelphia Distance Run, Philadelphia, PA
Marathon	2:52:50	-	Apr 21	Boston Marathon

2007

8 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
3000m	9:30.87	-	Jul 31	Grangemouth Celtic Cup, Grangemouth
5000m	16:34.17	-	Jul 22	Irish Championships
5Kilometre	16:49	-	Jun 3	Frauenlauf, Wien
Semi	1:15:52	-	Apr 29	Annecy Half Marathon, Annecy
10Kilometr	37:04	-	Apr 15	Dublin BUPA Great Ireland Run, Dublin
3000m	9:32.31	-	Mar 9	Australian Championships
5000m	16:04.39	-	Mar 2	Melbourne Telstra A-Series, Melbourne
3000m	9:04.5HT	-	Feb 16	Melbourne AV Shield Competition, Melbourne

2006

7 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Marathon	2:42:05	-	Nov 5	New York City Marathon
10MilesRoa	56:42	-	Oct 22	Portsmouth Great South Run, Portsmouth
10MilesRoa	58:39	-	Oct 15	Twickenham Cabbage Patch, Twickenham
10Kilometr	34:58	-	Oct 8	London Nike 10K, London
5Kilometre	16:38	-	Sep 3	Hydro Active Women's Challenge, Liverpool
5000m	16:17.45	-	Feb 17	Melbourne Victorian Ch., Melbourne
5000m	15:44.24	-	Feb 4	Australian Championships

2005

9 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
Semi	1:11:52	-	Dec 23	Okayama Half Marathon, Okayama
5Kilometre	16:10	-	Nov 5	Asics Bolt 5 km, Noosa
10MilesRoa	56:51	-	Oct 9	Portsmouth BUPA Great South Run, Portsmouth
Semi	1:14:41	-	Sep 18	South Shields BUPA Great North Run, South Shields
3000m	9:05.94	-	Jul 2	Cork City Sports, Cork
10Kilometr	33:06	-	Jun 6	Dublin Flora Women's Mini Marathon, Dublin
10Kilometr	34:31	-	May 15	Glasgow Britannic Asset Women's 10K, Glasgow
Marathon	2:29:01	-	Apr 17	London Marathon
10Kilometr	32:18	-	Apr 9	Dublin BUPA Great Ireland Run, Dublin

2004

19 performances

Discipline	Result	Wind	Date	Competitions
10Kilometr	34:05	-	Nov 28	London Nike 10K, London
Semi	1:10:33	-	Oct 3	New Delhi IAAF World Half Marathon Championships
Semi	1:08:55	-	Sep 26	South Shields BUPA Great North Run, South Shields
5Kilometre	15:06	-	Sep 5	London
5000m	16:20.90	-	Aug 23	The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m	14:59.61	-	Aug 20	The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m	16:20.90	-	Aug 18	The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina
5000m	14:59.61	-	Aug 18	The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina
3000m	8:41.42	-	Aug 6	Weltklasse Zürich
800m	2:07.74	-	Jul 25	Irish Championships
1500m	4:22.58	-	Jul 25	Irish Championships
3000m	9:12.87	-	Jul 17	Madrid Meeting 2004, Madrid
5000m	15:15.95	-	Jul 3	Cork City Sports, Cork
1500m	4:15.59	-	Jun 27	Gateshead Norwich Union British Grand Prix, Gateshead
10Kilometr	32:12	-	May 23	Manchester BUPA Great Run 10K, Manchester
5Kilometre	15:11	-	May 8	Balmoral
Mile	4:27.79	-	May 6	Oxford 50th Anniversary of the Sub 4 Mile, Oxford
5000m	14:58.43	-	Apr 30	Stanford Cardinal Invitational, Palo Alto, CA
10Kilometr	34:16	-	Apr 3	Dublin BUPA Great Ireland Run, Dublin

Showing 1 - 50 of 321

Honours

London Marathon

Marathon

2005

New Delhi IAAF World Half Marathon Championships

Half Marathon

2004

🥇

Irish Championships

5000 Metres

2003

🥇

Irish Championships

800 Metres

2002

🥈

München European Championships

5000 Metres

2002

🥈

München European Championships

10,000 Metres

2002

30th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Short Race

2002

🥈

München European Championships

10,000 Metres

2002

🥇

Irish Championships

5000 Metres

2002

🥈

München European Championships

5000 Metres

2002

IAAF World Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

2001

🥇

Irish Championships

800 Metres

2000

The XXVII Olympic Games

10,000 Metres

2000

🥈

The XXVII Olympic Games

5000 Metres

2000

28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Long Race

2000

🥇

Doha IAAF Grand Prix Final

3000 Metres

2000

🥇

Irish Championships

1500 Metres

2000

🥇

Budapest European Championships

10,000 Metres

1998

🥇

Johannesburg IAAF World Cup

5000 Metres

1998

🥇

Budapest European Championships

5000 Metres

1998

🥇

Budapest European Championships

10,000 Metres

1998

🥇

Budapest European Championships

5000 Metres

1998

🥇

Irish Championships

5000 Metres

1998

🥇

26th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Short Race

1998

🥇

26th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Long Race

1998

IAAF World Championships

1500 Metres

1997

25th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Long Race

1997

🥈

IAAF World Indoor Championships

3000 Metres Short Track

1997

🥇

IAAF World Championships

5000 Metres

1995

🥇

Monaco IAAF Grand Prix Final

3000 Metres

1995

London IAAF World Cup

1500 Metres

1994

🥇

Helsinki European Championships

3000 Metres

1994

🥇

Helsinki European Championships

3000 Metres

1994

🥇

Paris IAAF Grand Prix Final

5000 Metres

1994

🥈

IAAF World Championships

1500 Metres

1993

IAAF World Championships

3000 Metres

1993

🥇

London IAAF Grand Prix Final

3000 Metres

1993

🥈

London IAAF Grand Prix Final

Mile

1993

20th IAAF World Cross Country Championships

Cross Country Long Race

1992

🥇

Torino

5000 Metres

1992

The XXV Olympic Games

3000 Metres

1992

🥇

NCAA Div. I Indoor Championships

5000 Metres Short Track

1991

🥈

Sheffield Universiade

3000 Metres

1991

🥇

Eugene NCAA Championships

3000 Metres

1991

🥇

Durham NCAA Championships

3000 Metres

1990

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

What is Sonia O'Sullivan's 3000 m personal best?

Sonia O'Sullivan's 3000 m personal best is 8:21.64, set on Jul 15, 1994 in Crystal Palace, London (GBR), #21 on the all-time list.

Which events does Sonia O'Sullivan compete in?

Sonia O'Sullivan competes in the 3000 m and 2000 Metres.

How did Sonia O'Sullivan perform in 2015?

2015 season best: 3:03:39, set on Oct 26, 2015 in Dublin (IRL).

How many medals has Sonia O'Sullivan won?

Sonia O'Sullivan has won 1 Olympic Games medal and 2 World Championships medals.