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.

Record progression

Mark over the years. The higher the curve, the better the record.

26:4030:00185019001950200032:35.0 · Howitt26:11.00 · Cheptegei

Record History

2020Joshua CheptegeiCurrentUGA—Oct 7, 2020Valencia, SpainOngoing26:11.00-6.53s
2005Kenenisa BekeleETH—Aug 26, 2005Brussels, Belgium15.1 years26:17.53-2.78s
2004Kenenisa BekeleETH—Jun 8, 2004Ostrava, Czech Republic15 months26:20.31-2.44s
1998Haile GebrselassieETH—Jun 1, 1998Hengelo, Netherlands6 years26:22.75-5.10s
1997Paul TergatKEN—Aug 22, 1997Brussels, Belgium9 months26:27.85-3.47s
1997Haile GebrselassieETH—Jul 4, 1997Oslo, Norway49 d26:31.32-6.76s
1996Salah HissouMAR—Aug 23, 1996Brussels, Belgium10 months26:38.08-5.45s
1995Haile GebrselassieETH—Jun 5, 1995Hengelo, Netherlands15 months26:43.53-8.70s
1994William SigeiKEN—Jul 22, 1994Oslo, Norway10 months26:52.23-6.15s
1993Yobes OndiekiKEN—Jul 10, 1993Oslo, Norway12 months26:58.38-9.53s
1993Richard ChelimoKEN—Jul 5, 1993Stockholm, Sweden5 d27:07.91-0.32s
1989Arturo BarriosMEX—Aug 18, 1989West Berlin, West Germany3.9 years27:08.23-5.58s
1984Fernando MamedePOR—Jul 2, 1984Stockholm, Sweden5.1 years27:13.81-8.59s
1978Henry RonoKEN—Jun 11, 1978Vienna, Austria6.1 years27:22.4-8.10s
1977Samson KimobwaKEN—Jun 30, 1977Helsinki, Finland11 months27:30.5-0.30s
1973David BedfordGBR—Jul 13, 1973London, United Kingdom4 years27:30.8-7.60s
1972Lasse VirénFIN—Sep 3, 1972Munich, West Germany10 months27:38.4-1.00s
1965Ron ClarkeAUS—Jul 14, 1965Oslo, Norway7.1 years27:39.4-36.20s
1963Ron ClarkeAUS—Dec 18, 1963Melbourne, Australia19 months28:15.6-2.60s
1962Pyotr BolotnikovURS—Aug 11, 1962Moscow, Soviet Union16 months28:18.2-0.60s
1960Pyotr BolotnikovURS—Oct 15, 1960Kiev, Soviet Union22 months28:18.8-11.60s
1956Vladimir KutsURS—Sep 11, 1956Moscow, Soviet Union4.1 years28:30.4-12.40s
1956Sándor IharosHUN—Jul 15, 1956Budapest, Hungary58 d28:42.8-11.40s
1954Emil ZátopekTCH—Jun 1, 1954Brussels, Belgium2.1 years28:54.2-7.40s
1953Emil ZátopekTCH—Nov 1, 1953Stara Boleslav, Czechoslovakia7 months29:01.6-1.00s
1950Emil ZátopekTCH—Aug 4, 1950Turku, Finland3.2 years29:02.6-18.60s
1949Emil ZátopekTCH—Oct 22, 1949Ostrava, Czechoslovakia9 months29:21.2-6.00s
1949Viljo HeinoFIN—Sep 1, 1949Kouvola, Finland51 d29:27.2-1.00s
1949Emil ZátopekTCH—Jun 11, 1949Ostrava, Czechoslovakia3 months29:28.2-7.20s
1944Viljo HeinoFIN—Aug 25, 1944Helsinki, Finland4.8 years29:35.4-17.20s
1939Taisto MäkiFIN—Sep 17, 1939Helsinki, Finland4.9 years29:52.6-9.40s
1938Taisto MäkiFIN—Sep 29, 1938Tampere, Finland12 months30:02.0-3.60s
1937Ilmari SalminenFIN—Jul 18, 1937Kouvola, Finland14 months30:05.6-0.60s
1924Paavo NurmiFIN—Aug 31, 1924Kuopio, Finland12.9 years30:06.2-17.00s
1924Ville RitolaFIN—Jul 6, 1924Paris, France56 d30:23.2-12.20s
1924Ville RitolaFIN—May 25, 1924Helsinki, Finland42 d30:35.4-4.80s
1921Paavo NurmiFIN—Jun 22, 1921Stockholm, Sweden2.9 years30:40.2-18.60s
1911Jean BouinFRA—Nov 16, 1911Paris, France9.6 years30:58.8-3.60s
1904Alfred ShrubbGBR—Nov 5, 1904Glasgow7 years31:02.4-20.70s
1885William CummingsGBR—Sep 28, 1885London, United Kingdom19.1 years31:23.1-16.90s
1884Walter GeorgeGBR—Jul 28, 1884London14 months31:40.0-13.40s
1884Walter GeorgeGBR—Apr 7, 1884London4 months31:53.4-15.60s
1882Walter GeorgeGBR—Mar 25, 1882London2 years32:09.0-26.00s
1847William HowittGBR—Apr 5, 1847Peckham35 years32:35.0—
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

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

Elite Trackr's progression lists 43 improvements since 1847, when William Howitt set 32:35.0.