World Records - 10 000 m Men

The 10 000 m Men world record stands at 26:11.00, set by Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) in 2020. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

JC
Joshua Cheptegei
10000 mètresMen
WR
26:11.00WR
Joshua Cheptegei
UGAUGAUGA
October 7, 2020
Valencia, Spain

Record standing for: 5 years, 11 months

Record History

PerformanceAthleteCountryDateCompetitionsGap vs WRDurationImprovement
26:11.00WR
Joshua CheptegeiUGAUGAOct 7, 2020Valencia, SpainWR5y 11mo (Current)-6.53s
26:17.53
Kenenisa BekeleETHETHAug 26, 2005Brussels, Belgium+6.53s15y 2mo -2.78s
26:20.31
Kenenisa BekeleETHETHJun 8, 2004Ostrava, Czech Republic+9.31s1y 2mo -2.44s
26:22.75
Haile GebrselassieETHETHJun 1, 1998Hengelo, Netherlands+11.75s6y -5.10s
26:27.85
Paul TergatKENKENAug 22, 1997Brussels, Belgium+16.85s10mo -3.47s
26:31.32
Haile GebrselassieETHETHJul 4, 1997Oslo, Norway+20.32s1mo -6.76s
26:38.08
Salah HissouMARMARAug 23, 1996Brussels, Belgium+27.08s11mo -5.45s
26:43.53
Haile GebrselassieETHETHJun 5, 1995Hengelo, Netherlands+32.53s1y 2mo -8.70s
26:52.23
William SigeiKENKENJul 22, 1994Oslo, Norway+41.23s11mo -6.15s
26:58.38
Yobes OndiekiKENKENJul 10, 1993Oslo, Norway+47.38s1y -9.53s
27:07.91
Richard ChelimoKENKENJul 5, 1993Stockholm, Sweden+56.91s5d -0.32s
27:08.23
Arturo BarriosMEXMEXAug 18, 1989West Berlin, West Germany+57.23s3y 11mo -5.58s
27:13.81
Fernando MamedePORPORJul 2, 1984Stockholm, Sweden+62.81s5y 1mo -8.59s
27:22.4
Henry RonoKENKENJun 11, 1978Vienna, Austria+71.40s6y 1mo -8.10s
27:30.5
Samson KimobwaKENKENJun 30, 1977Helsinki, Finland+79.50s1y -0.30s
27:30.8
David BedfordGBRGBRJul 13, 1973London, United Kingdom+79.80s3y 11mo -7.60s
27:38.4
Lasse VirénFINFINSep 3, 1972Munich, West Germany+87.40s10mo -1.00s
27:39.4
Ron ClarkeAUSAUSJul 14, 1965Oslo, Norway+88.40s7y 2mo -36.20s
28:15.6
Ron ClarkeAUSAUSDec 18, 1963Melbourne, Australia+124.60s1y 7mo -2.60s
28:18.2
Pyotr BolotnikovURSURSAug 11, 1962Moscow, Soviet Union+127.20s1y 4mo -0.60s
28:18.8
Pyotr BolotnikovURSURSOct 15, 1960Kiev, Soviet Union+127.80s1y 10mo -11.60s
28:30.4
Vladimir KutsURSURSSep 11, 1956Moscow, Soviet Union+139.40s4y 1mo -12.40s
28:42.8
Sándor IharosHUNHUNJul 15, 1956Budapest, Hungary+151.80s2mo -11.40s
28:54.2
Emil ZátopekTCHTCHJun 1, 1954Brussels, Belgium+163.20s2y 1mo -7.40s
29:01.6
Emil ZátopekTCHTCHNov 1, 1953Stara Boleslav, Czechoslovakia+170.60s7mo -1.00s
29:02.6
Emil ZátopekTCHTCHAug 4, 1950Turku, Finland+171.60s3y 3mo -18.60s
29:21.2
Emil ZátopekTCHTCHOct 22, 1949Ostrava, Czechoslovakia+190.20s10mo -6.00s
29:27.2
Viljo HeinoFINFINSep 1, 1949Kouvola, Finland+196.20s1mo -1.00s
29:28.2
Emil ZátopekTCHTCHJun 11, 1949Ostrava, Czechoslovakia+197.20s3mo -7.20s
29:35.4
Viljo HeinoFINFINAug 25, 1944Helsinki, Finland+204.40s4y 10mo -17.20s
29:52.6
Taisto MäkiFINFINSep 17, 1939Helsinki, Finland+221.60s4y 11mo -9.40s
30:02.0
Taisto MäkiFINFINSep 29, 1938Tampere, Finland+231.00s1y -3.60s
30:05.6
Ilmari SalminenFINFINJul 18, 1937Kouvola, Finland+234.60s1y 2mo -0.60s
30:06.2
Paavo NurmiFINFINAug 31, 1924Kuopio, Finland+235.20s12y 11mo -17.00s
30:23.2
Ville RitolaFINFINJul 6, 1924Paris, France+252.20s1mo -12.20s
30:35.4
Ville RitolaFINFINMay 25, 1924Helsinki, Finland+264.40s2mo -4.80s
30:40.2
Paavo NurmiFINFINJun 22, 1921Stockholm, Sweden+269.20s2y 11mo -18.60s
30:58.8
Jean BouinFRAFRANov 16, 1911Paris, France+287.80s9y 7mo -24.30s
31:23.1
William CummingsGBRGBRSep 28, 1885London, United Kingdom+312.10s26y 2mo -
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who holds the 10 000 m Men world record?

Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) holds the 10 000 m Men world record with 26:11.00, set on October 7, 2020 in Valencia, Spain.

Who held the 10 000 m Men world record before Joshua Cheptegei?

Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) held it with 26:17.53, from August 26, 2005 until October 7, 2020 (15 years).

How many times has the 10 000 m Men world record been improved?

Elite Trackr's progression lists 38 improvements since 1885, when William Cummings set 31:23.1.