World Records - 5000 m Men

The 5000 m Men world record stands at 12:35.36, set by Joshua Cheptegei (UGA) in 2020. Explore its full progression through athletics history.

JC
Joshua Cheptegei
5000 mètresMen
WR
12:35.36WR
Joshua Cheptegei
UGAUGAUGA
August 14, 2020
Monaco

Record standing for: 6 years, 1 months

Record History

PerformanceAthleteCountryDateCompetitionsGap vs WRDurationImprovement
12:35.36WR
Joshua CheptegeiUGAUGAAug 14, 2020MonacoWR6y 1mo (Current)-1.99s
12:37.35
Kenenisa BekeleETHETHMay 31, 2004Hengelo, Netherlands+1.99s16y 3mo -2.01s
12:39.36
Haile GebrselassieETHETHJun 13, 1998Helsinki, Finland+4.00s5y 11mo -0.38s
12:39.74
Daniel KomenKENKENAug 22, 1997Brussels, Belgium+4.38s10mo -2.12s
12:41.86
Haile GebrselassieETHETHAug 13, 1997Zürich, Switzerland+6.50s9d -2.53s
12:44.39
Haile GebrselassieETHETHAug 16, 1995Zürich, Switzerland+9.03s2y -10.91s
12:55.30
Moses KiptanuiKENKENJun 8, 1995Rome, Italy+19.94s2mo -1.66s
12:56.96
Haile GebrselassieETHETHJun 4, 1994Hengelo, Netherlands+21.60s1y -1.43s
12:58.39
Saïd AouitaMARMARJul 27, 1987Rome, Italy+23.03s6y 11mo -2.01s
13:00.40
Saïd AouitaMARMARJul 27, 1985Oslo, Norway+25.04s2y -0.01s
13:00.41
David MoorcroftGBRGBRJul 7, 1982Oslo, Norway+25.05s3y -5.79s
13:06.20
Henry RonoKENKENSep 13, 1981Knarvik, Norway+30.84s10mo -2.20s
13:08.4
Henry RonoKENKENApr 8, 1978Berkeley, California, USA+33.04s3y 5mo -4.50s
13:12.9
Dick QuaxNZLNZLJul 5, 1977Stockholm, Sweden+37.54s9mo -0.10s
13:13.0
Emiel PuttemansBELBELSep 20, 1972Brussels, Belgium+37.64s4y 10mo -3.40s
13:16.4
Lasse VirénFINFINSep 14, 1972Helsinki, Finland+41.04s6d -0.20s
13:16.6
Ron ClarkeAUSAUSJul 5, 1966Stockholm, Sweden+41.24s6y 2mo -7.60s
13:24.2
Kipchoge KeinoKENKENNov 30, 1965Auckland, New Zealand+48.84s8mo -1.60s
13:25.8
Ron ClarkeAUSAUSJun 4, 1965Compton, USA+50.44s5mo -7.80s
13:33.6
Ron ClarkeAUSAUSFeb 1, 1965Auckland, New Zealand+58.24s4mo -1.20s
13:34.8
Ron ClarkeAUSAUSJan 16, 1965Hobart, Australia+59.44s1mo -0.20s
13:35.0
Vladimir KutsURSURSOct 13, 1957Rome, Italy+59.64s7y 3mo -1.80s
13:36.8
Gordon PirieGBRGBRJun 19, 1956Bergen, Norway+61.44s1y 4mo -3.80s
13:40.6
Sándor IharosHUNHUNOct 23, 1955Budapest, Hungary+65.24s8mo -6.20s
13:46.8
Vladimir KutsURSURSSep 18, 1955Belgrade, Yugoslavia+71.44s1mo -4.00s
13:50.8
Sándor IharosHUNHUNSep 10, 1955Budapest, Hungary+75.44s8d -0.40s
13:51.2
Vladimir KutsURSURSOct 23, 1954Prague, Czechoslovakia+75.84s11mo -0.40s
13:51.6
Chris ChatawayGBRGBROct 13, 1954London, United Kingdom+76.24s10d -5.00s
13:56.6
Vladimir KutsURSURSAug 29, 1954Bern, Switzerland+81.24s2mo -0.60s
13:57.2
Emil ZátopekTCHTCHMay 30, 1954Paris, France+81.84s3mo -1.00s
13:58.2
Gunder HäggSWESWESep 20, 1942Gothenburg, Sweden+82.84s11y 8mo -10.60s
14:08.8
Taisto MäkiFINFINJun 16, 1939Helsinki, Finland+93.44s3y 3mo -8.20s
14:17.0
Lauri LehtinenFINFINJun 19, 1932Helsinki, Finland+101.64s7y -11.20s
14:28.2
Paavo NurmiFINFINJun 19, 1924Helsinki, Finland+112.84s8y -7.20s
14:35.4
Paavo NurmiFINFINSep 12, 1922Stockholm, Sweden+120.04s1y 9mo -1.20s
14:36.6
Hannes KolehmainenFINFINJul 10, 1912Stockholm, Sweden+121.24s10y 2mo -22.40s
14:59.0
Alfred ShrubbGBRGBRJun 13, 1904Glasgow, United Kingdom+143.64s8y 1mo -30.80s
15:29.8
Chris BennettGBRGBRJul 22, 1900Paris, France+174.44s3y 11mo -59.40s
16:29.2
George Touquet-DaunisFRAFRAMay 22, 1899Lyon, France+233.84s1y 2mo -5.40s
16:34.6
George Touquet-DaunisFRAFRAOct 31, 1897Paris, France+239.24s1y 7mo -
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Who holds the 5000 m Men world record?

Joshua Cheptegei (Uganda) holds the 5000 m Men world record with 12:35.36, set on August 14, 2020 in Monaco.

Who held the 5000 m Men world record before Joshua Cheptegei?

Kenenisa Bekele (Ethiopia) held it with 12:37.35, from May 31, 2004 until August 14, 2020 (16 years).

How many times has the 5000 m Men world record been improved?

Elite Trackr's progression lists 39 improvements since 1897, when George Touquet-Daunis set 16:34.6.