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.

Record progression

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

13:2015:0016:4019001950200016:34.6 · Touquet-Daunis12:35.36 · Cheptegei

Record History

2020Joshua CheptegeiCurrentUGA—Aug 14, 2020MonacoOngoing12:35.36-1.99s
2004Kenenisa BekeleETH—May 31, 2004Hengelo, Netherlands16.2 years12:37.35-2.01s
1998Haile GebrselassieETH—Jun 13, 1998Helsinki, Finland6 years12:39.36-0.38s
1997Daniel KomenKEN—Aug 22, 1997Brussels, Belgium10 months12:39.74-2.12s
1997Haile GebrselassieETH—Aug 13, 1997Zürich, Switzerland9 d12:41.86-2.53s
1995Haile GebrselassieETH—Aug 16, 1995Zürich, Switzerland24 months12:44.39-10.91s
1995Moses KiptanuiKEN—Jun 8, 1995Rome, Italy2 months12:55.30-1.66s
1994Haile GebrselassieETH—Jun 4, 1994Hengelo, Netherlands12 months12:56.96-1.43s
1987Saïd AouitaMAR—Jul 27, 1987Rome, Italy6.9 years12:58.39-2.01s
1985Saïd AouitaMAR—Jul 27, 1985Oslo, Norway24 months13:00.40-0.01s
1982David MoorcroftGBR—Jul 7, 1982Oslo, Norway3.1 years13:00.41-5.79s
1981Henry RonoKEN—Sep 13, 1981Knarvik, Norway10 months13:06.20-2.20s
1978Henry RonoKEN—Apr 8, 1978Berkeley, California, USA3.4 years13:08.4-4.50s
1977Dick QuaxNZL—Jul 5, 1977Stockholm, Sweden9 months13:12.9-0.10s
1972Emiel PuttemansBEL—Sep 20, 1972Brussels, Belgium4.8 years13:13.0-3.40s
1972Lasse VirénFIN—Sep 14, 1972Helsinki, Finland6 d13:16.4-0.20s
1966Ron ClarkeAUS—Jul 5, 1966Stockholm, Sweden6.2 years13:16.6-7.60s
1965Kipchoge KeinoKEN—Nov 30, 1965Auckland, New Zealand7 months13:24.2-1.60s
1965Ron ClarkeAUS—Jun 4, 1965Compton, USA6 months13:25.8-7.80s
1965Ron ClarkeAUS—Feb 1, 1965Auckland, New Zealand4 months13:33.6-1.20s
1965Ron ClarkeAUS—Jan 16, 1965Hobart, Australia16 d13:34.8-0.20s
1957Vladimir KutsURS—Oct 13, 1957Rome, Italy7.3 years13:35.0-1.80s
1956Gordon PirieGBR—Jun 19, 1956Bergen, Norway16 months13:36.8-3.80s
1955Sándor IharosHUN—Oct 23, 1955Budapest, Hungary8 months13:40.6-6.20s
1955Vladimir KutsURS—Sep 18, 1955Belgrade, Yugoslavia35 d13:46.8-4.00s
1955Sándor IharosHUN—Sep 10, 1955Budapest, Hungary8 d13:50.8-0.40s
1954Vladimir KutsURS—Oct 23, 1954Prague, Czechoslovakia11 months13:51.2-0.40s
1954Chris ChatawayGBR—Oct 13, 1954London, United Kingdom10 d13:51.6-5.00s
1954Vladimir KutsURS—Aug 29, 1954Bern, Switzerland45 d13:56.6-0.60s
1954Emil ZátopekTCH—May 30, 1954Paris, France3 months13:57.2-1.00s
1942Gunder HäggSWE—Sep 20, 1942Gothenburg, Sweden11.7 years13:58.2-10.60s
1939Taisto MäkiFIN—Jun 16, 1939Helsinki, Finland3.3 years14:08.8-8.20s
1932Lauri LehtinenFIN—Jun 19, 1932Helsinki, Finland7 years14:17.0-11.20s
1924Paavo NurmiFIN—Jun 19, 1924Helsinki, Finland8 years14:28.2-7.20s
1922Paavo NurmiFIN—Sep 12, 1922Stockholm, Sweden21 months14:35.4-1.20s
1912Hannes KolehmainenFIN—Jul 10, 1912Stockholm, Sweden10.2 years14:36.6-22.40s
1904Alfred ShrubbGBR—Jun 13, 1904Glasgow, United Kingdom8.1 years14:59.0-30.80s
1900Charles BennettUSA—Jul 22, 1900Paris, France3.9 years15:29.8-59.40s
1899George Touquet-DaunisFRA—May 22, 1899Lyon, France14 months16:29.2-5.40s
1897George Touquet-DaunisFRA—Oct 31, 1897Paris, France19 months16:34.6—
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

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

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