1500 metres facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Athletics1500 metres |
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Olavi Salsola, Olavi Salonen and Olavi Vuorisalo (The three Olavis) break the 1,500 m world record in 1957 in Turku, Finland.
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| World records | |
| Men |  Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:26.00 (1998) |
| Women |  Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:49.11 (2023) |
| Short track world records | |
| Men |  Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:30.60 (2022) |
| Women |  Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) 3:53.09 (2021) |
| Olympic records | |
| Men | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:28.32 (2021) |
| Women | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) 3:53.11 (2021) |
| World Championship records | |
| Men | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:27.65 (1999) |
| Women |  Sifan Hassan (NED) 3:51.95 (2019) |
| World junior (U20) records | |
| Men | Ronald Kwemoi (KEN) 3:28.81 (2014) |
| Women |  Lang Yinglai (CHN) 3:51.34 (1997) |
The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run (typically pronounced 'fifteen-hundred metres') is the foremost middle distance track event in athletics. The distance has been contested at the Summer Olympics since 1896 and the World Championships in Athletics since 1983. It is equivalent to 1.5 kilometers or approximately 15⁄16 miles. The event is closely associated with its slightly longer cousin, the mile race, from which it derives its nickname "the metric mile".
The demands of the race are similar to that of the 800 metres, but with a slightly higher emphasis on aerobic endurance and a slightly lower sprint speed requirement. The 1500 metre race is predominantly aerobic, but anaerobic conditioning is also required.
Each lap run during the world-record race run by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1998 in Rome, Italy averaged just under 55 seconds (or under 13.8 seconds per 100 metres).
1,500 metres is three and three-quarter laps around a 400-metre track. During the 1970s and 1980s this race was dominated by British runners, along with an occasional Finn, American, or New Zealander. Through the 1990s, many African runners began to win Olympic medals in this race, especially runners from Kenya, Ethiopia, and East Africa, as well as North African runners from Morocco and Algeria. In the 2020s, European runners began to emerge again in the men's event, with Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the youngest of a dynasty of Norwegian middle-distance runners, winning Olympic Gold in 2021, and Scottish and British runner Jake Wightman winning the World Championship title the following year at the head of an all-European podium. Faith Kipyegon of Kenya maintained Africa's grip on the global titles in the female event in the same time period, although here again, Europeans Sifan Hassan and Laura Muir, and Americans such as Jenny Simpson also contended for the podium.
In the Modern Olympic Games, the men's 1,500-metre race has been contested from the beginning, and at every Olympic Games since. The first winner, in 1896, was Edwin Flack of Australia, who also won the first gold medal in the 800-metre race. The women's 1,500-metre race was first added to the Summer Olympics in 1972, and the winner of the first gold medal was Lyudmila Bragina of the Soviet Union. During the Olympic Games of 1972 through 2008, the women's 1,500-metre race has been won by three Soviets plus one Russian, one Italian, one Romanian, one Briton, one Kenyan, and two Algerians. The 2012 Olympic results are still undecided as a result of multiple doping cases. The best women's times for the race were controversially set by Chinese runners, all set in the same race on just two dates four years apart at the Chinese National Games. At least one of those top Chinese athletes has admitted to being part of a doping program. This women's record was finally broken by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2015.
In American high schools, the 1,600-metre run, also colloquially referred to as "metric mile", is the designated official distance by the National Governing Body the NFHS. Because of the legacy, since US customary units are better-known in America, the mile run (which is 1609.344 metres in length) is more frequently run than the 1,500-metre run. For convenience, national rankings are standardized by converting all 1,500-metre run times to their mile run equivalents.
Contents
Strategy
Many 1500 metres events, particularly at the championship level, turn into slow, strategic races, with the pace quickening and competitors jockeying for position in the final lap to settle the race in a final sprint. Such is the difficulty of maintaining the pace throughout the duration of the event, most records are set in planned races led by pacemakers or "rabbits" who sacrifice their opportunity to win by leading the early laps at a fast pace before dropping out.
The person who wins the race is behind watching.
Continental records
- Updated 16 September 2023.
| Area | Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation | |
| Africa (records) | 3:26.00 WR | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco |
3:49.11 WR | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya |
| Asia (records) | 3:29.14 | Rashid Ramzi |  Bahrain |
3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | China |
| Europe (records) | 3:27.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway |
3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands |
| North, Central America and Caribbean (records) |
3:29.02 | Yared Nuguse |  United States |
3:54.99 | Shelby Houlihan | United States |
| Oceania (records) | 3:29.41 | Oliver Hoare |  Australia |
3:56.92 | Linden Hall | Australia |
| South America (records) | 3:33.25 | Hudson de Souza |  Brazil |
4:05.67 | Letitia Vriesde |  Suriname |
All-time top 25
Men (outdoor)
- Updated 16 July 2023.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:26.00 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco |
14 July 1998 | Rome | |
| 2 | 3:26.12 | El Guerrouj #2 | 24 August 2001 | Brussels | |||
| 2 | 3 | 3:26.34 | Bernard Lagat | Kenya |
24 August 2001 | Brussels | |
| 4 | 3:26.45 | El Guerrouj #3 | 12 August 1998 | Zürich | |||
| 3 | 5 | 3:26.69 | Asbel Kiprop | Kenya |
17 July 2015 | Monaco | |
| 6 | 3:26.89 | El Guerrouj #4 | 16 August 2002 | Zürich | |||
| 7 | 3:26.96 | El Guerrouj #5 | 8 September 2002 | Rieti | |||
| 4 | 8 | 3:27.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway |
16 July 2023 | Chorzów | |
| 9 | 3:27.21 | El Guerrouj #6 | 11 August 2000 | Zürich | |||
| 10 | 3:27.34 | El Guerrouj #7 | 19 July 2002 | Monaco | |||
| 5 | 11 | 3:27.37 | Noureddine Morceli |  Algeria |
12 July 1995 | Nice | |
| 12 | 3:27.40 | Lagat #2 | 6 August 2004 | Zürich | |||
| 13 | 3:27.52 | Morceli #2 | 25 July 1995 | Monaco | |||
| 14 | 3:27.64 | El Guerrouj #8 | 6 August 2004 | Zürich | |||
| 6 | 14 | 3:27.64 | Silas Kiplagat | Kenya |
18 July 2014 | Monaco | |
| 16 | 3:27.65 | El Guerrouj #9 | 24 August 1999 | Seville | |||
| 17 | 3:27.72 | Kiprop #2 | 19 July 2013 | Monaco | |||
| 18 | 3:27.91 | Lagat #3 | 19 July 2002 | Monaco | |||
| 19 | 3:27.95 | Ingebrigtsen #2 | 15 June 2023 | Oslo | |||
| 7 | 20 | 3:28.12 | Noah Ngeny | Kenya |
11 August 2000 | Zürich | |
| 21 | 3:28.21+ | El Guerrouj #10 | 7 July 1999 | Rome | |||
| 8 | 22 | 3:28.28 | Timothy Cheruiyot | Kenya |
9 July 2021 | Monaco | |
| 23 | 3:28.32 | Ingebrigtsen #3 | 7 August 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 24 | 3:28.37 | Morceli #3 | 9 September 1995 | Monaco | |||
| El Guerrouj #11 | 8 August 1998 | Monaco | |||||
| 9 | 3:28.75 | Taoufik Makhloufi | Algeria |
17 July 2015 | Monaco | ||
| 10 | 3:28.76 | Mohamed Katir |  Spain |
9 July 2021 | Monaco | ||
| 11 | 3:28.79 | Abdalaati Iguider | Morocco |
17 July 2015 | Monaco | ||
| 12 | 3:28.80 | Elijah Manangoi | Kenya |
21 July 2017 | Monaco | ||
| 13 | 3:28.81 | Mo Farah |  Great Britain |
19 July 2013 | Monaco | ||
| Ronald Kwemoi | Kenya |
18 July 2014 | Monaco | ||||
| 15 | 3:28.95 | Fermín Cacho | Spain |
13 August 1997 | Zürich | ||
| 16 | 3:28.98 | Mehdi Baala |  France |
5 September 2003 | Brussels | ||
| 17 | 3:29.02 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | Kenya |
14 July 2006 | Rome | ||
| Yared Nuguse | United States |
15 June 2023 | Oslo | ||||
| 19 | 3:29.05 | Josh Kerr | Great Britain |
7 August 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 20 | 3:29.11 | Abel Kipsang | Kenya |
16 July 2023 | Chorzów | ||
| 21 | 3:29.14 | Rashid Ramzi | Bahrain |
14 July 2006 | Rome | ||
| 22 | 3:29.18 | Vénuste Niyongabo |  Burundi |
22 August 1997 | Brussels | ||
| Mario García | Spain |
15 June 2023 | Oslo | ||||
| 24 | 3:29.23 | Jake Wightman | Great Britain |
19 July 2022 | Eugene | ||
| 25 | 3:29.26 | Azeddine Habz | France |
15 June 2023 | Oslo |
Women (outdoor)
- Updated April 2024.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 3:49.11 | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya |
2 June 2023 | Florence | |
| 2 | 2 | 3:50.07 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia |
17 July 2015 | Monaco | |
| 3 | 3 | 3:50.30 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia |
20 April 2024 | Xiamen | |
| 4 | 3:50.37 | Kipyegon #2 | 10 August 2022 | Monaco | |||
| 4 | 5 | 3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | China |
11 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 6 | 3:50.72 | Kipyegon #3 | 16 September 2023 | Eugene | |||
| 5 | 7 | 3:50.98 | Jiang Bo | China |
18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |
| 8 | 3:51.07 | Kipyegon #4 | 9 July 2021 | Monaco | |||
| 6 | 9 | 3:51.34 | Lang Yinglai | China |
18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |
| 10 | 3:51.41+ | Kipyegon #5 | 21 July 2023 | Monaco | |||
| 7 | 11 | 3:51.92 | Wang Junxia | China |
11 September 1993 | Beijing | |
| 8 | 12 | 3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands |
5 October 2019 | Doha | |
| 9 | 13 | 3:52.47 | Tatyana Kazankina |  Soviet Union |
13 August 1980 | Zürich | |
| 14 | 3:52.59 | Kipyegon #6 | 28 May 2022 | Eugene | |||
| 15 | 3:52.96 | Kipyegon #7 | 18 July 2022 | Eugene | |||
| 16 | 3:53.11 | Kipyegon #8 | 6 August 2021 | Tokyo | |||
| 10 | 17 | 3:53.22 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia |
20 April 2024 | Xiamen | |
| 18 | 3:53.23 | Kipyegon #9 | 21 August 2021 | Eugene | |||
| 19 | 3:53.60 | Hassan #2 | 9 July 2021 | Monaco | |||
| 20 | 3:53.63 | Hassan #3 | 10 June 2021 | Florence | |||
| 11 | 21 | 3:53.91 | Yin Lili | China |
18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |
| 21 | 3:53.91 | Kipyegon #10 | 10 June 2021 | Florence | |||
| 12 | 23 | 3:53.93 | Diribe Welteji | Ethiopia |
16 September 2023 | Eugene | |
| 13 | 24 | 3:53.96 | Paula Ivan |  Romania |
1 October 1988 | Seoul | |
| 14 | 25 | 3:53.97 | Lan Lixin | China |
18 October 1997 | Shanghai | |
| 15 | 3:54.23 | Olga Dvirna | Soviet Union |
27 July 1982 | Kyiv | ||
| 16 | 3:54.50 | Laura Muir | Great Britain |
6 August 2021 | Tokyo | ||
| 17 | 3:54.52 | Zhang Ling | China |
18 October 1997 | Shanghai | ||
| 18 | 3:54.87 | Hirut Meshesha | Ethiopia |
16 July 2023 | Chorzów | ||
| 19 | 3:54.99 | Shelby Houlihan | United States |
5 October 2019 | Doha | ||
| 20 | 3:55.07 | Dong Yanmei | China |
18 October 1997 | Shanghai | ||
| 21 | 3:55.30 | Hassiba Boulmerka | Algeria |
8 August 1992 | Barcelona | ||
| 22 | 3:55.33 | Süreyya Ayhan |  Turkey |
5 September 2003 | Brussels | ||
| 23 | 3:55.68 | Yuliya Chizhenko |  Russia |
8 July 2006 | Saint-Denis | ||
| Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia |
16 September 2023 | Eugene | ||||
| 25 | 3:55.87 | Ciara Mageean |  Ireland |
8 September 2023 | Brussels |
Men (indoor)
- Updated 11 February 2024.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3:30.60 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway |
17 February 2022 | Liévin | |
| 2 | 3:31.04 | Samuel Tefera | Ethiopia |
16 February 2019 | Birmingham | |
| 3 | 3:31.18 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco |
2 February 1997 | Stuttgart | |
| 4 | 3:31.25+ | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia |
3 March 2019 | Boston | |
| 5 | 3:31.76 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia |
1 February 1998 | Stuttgart | |
| 6 | 3:32.11 | Laban Rotich | Kenya |
1 February 1998 | Stuttgart | |
| 7 | 3:32.35 | Ollie Hoare | Australia |
13 February 2021 | New York City | |
| 8 | 3:32.48 | Neil Gourley | Great Britain |
25 February 2023 | Birmingham | |
| 9 | 3:32.86+ | Josh Kerr | Great Britain |
27 February 2022 | Boston | |
| 10 | 3:32.97 | Selemon Barega | Ethiopia |
17 February 2021 | Toruń | |
| 11 | 3:33.08 | Daniel Komen | Kenya |
13 February 2005 | Karlsruhe | |
| 12 | 3:33.10 | Deresse Mekonnen | Ethiopia |
20 February 2010 | Birmingham | |
| 13 | 3:33.17 | Vénuste Niyongabo | Burundi |
22 February 1998 | Liévin | |
| 14 | 3:33.22+ | Yared Nuguse | United States |
11 February 2023 | New York City | |
| 15 | 3:33.23 | Augustine Choge | Kenya |
19 February 2011 | Birmingham | |
| 16 | 3:33.28 | Adel Mechaal | Spain |
25 February 2023 | Birmingham | |
| 17 | 3:33.32 | Andrés Manuel Díaz | Spain |
24 February 1999 | Piraeus | |
| 18 | 3:33.34+ | Bernard Lagat | Kenya |
11 February 2005 | Fayetteville | |
| 19 | 3:33.36 | Abel Kipsang | Kenya |
20 March 2022 | Belgrade | |
| 20 | 3:33.49 | Andrew Coscoran | Ireland |
25 February 2023 | Birmingham | |
| 21 | 3:33.59 | Teddese Lemi | Ethiopia |
20 March 2022 | Belgrade | |
| 22 | 3:33.66 | Hobbs Kessler | United States |
4 February 2024 | Boston | |
| 23 | 3:33.76+ | Edward Cheserek | Kenya |
9 February 2018 | Boston | |
| 24 | 3:33.86+ | George Mills | Great Britain |
11 February 2024 | New York City | |
| 25 | 3:33.96 | Haron Keitany | Kenya |
8 February 2009 | Ghent |
Women (indoor)
- Updated 11 February 2024.
| Rank | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3:53.09 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia |
9 February 2021 | Liévin | |
| 2 | 3:55.17 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia |
1 February 2014 | Karlsruhe | |
| 3 | 3:55.28 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia |
6 February 2024 | Toruń | |
| 4 | 3:55.47 | Diribe Welteji | Ethiopia |
6 February 2024 | Toruń | |
| 5 | 3:56.47 | Hirut Meshesha | Ethiopia |
6 February 2024 | Toruń | |
| 6 | 3:57.91 | Abeba Aregawi |  Sweden |
6 February 2014 | Stockholm | |
| 7 | 3:58.28 | Yelena Soboleva | Russia |
18 February 2006 | Moscow | |
| 8 | 3:58.43 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia |
4 February 2024 | Boston | |
| 9 | 3:58.79 | Tigist Girma | Ethiopia |
6 February 2024 | Toruń | |
| 10 | 3:59.58 | Laura Muir | Great Britain |
9 February 2021 | Liévin | |
| 11 | 3:59.75 | Gelete Burka | Ethiopia |
9 March 2008 | Valencia | |
| 12 | 3:59.79 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | Bahrain |
9 March 2008 | Valencia | |
| 13 | 3:59.87+ | Konstanze Klosterhalfen |  Germany |
8 February 2020 | New York City | |
| 14 | 3:59.98 | Regina Jacobs | United States |
1 February 2003 | Boston | |
| 15 | 4:00.20+ | Elle Purrier | United States |
8 February 2020 | New York City | |
| 16 | 4:00.27+ | Doina Melinte | Romania |
9 February 1990 | East Rutherford | |
| 17 | 4:00.28 | Dawit Seyaum | Ethiopia |
28 February 2016 | Boston | |
| 18 | 4:00.46 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands |
19 February 2015 | Stockholm | |
| 19 | 4:00.52+ | Jemma Reekie | Great Britain |
8 February 2020 | New York City | |
| 20 | 4:00.72 | Natalya Gorelova | Russia |
27 February 2003 | Moscow | |
| 21 | 4:00.8h | Mary Decker | United States |
8 February 1980 | New York City | |
| 4:00.80+ | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford |  Canada |
8 February 2020 | New York City | ||
| 23 | 4:00.97 | Habitam Alemu | Ethiopia |
10 February 2024 | Liévin | |
| 24 | 4:01.17 | Beatrice Chepkoech | Kenya |
6 February 2024 | Toruń | |
| 25 | 4:01.19+ | Jessica Hull |  Australia |
11 February 2024 | New York City |
U20 records and U18 world bests
- Updated 16 July 2023.
| Age group | Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation | |
| U20 (records) | 3:28.81 | Ronald Kwemoi | Kenya |
3:51.34 | Lang Yinglai | China |
| U18 (world bests) | 3:33.26 | Cameron Myers | Australia |
3:54.52 | Zhang Ling | China |
Olympic medalists
Men
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1896 Athens |
Edwin Flack Australia |
Arthur Blake United States |
Albin Lermusiaux France |
| 1900 Paris |
Charles Bennett Great Britain |
Henri Deloge France |
John Bray United States |
| 1904 St. Louis |
Jim Lightbody United States |
Frank Verner United States |
Lacey Hearn United States |
| 1908 London |
Mel Sheppard United States |
Harold Wilson Great Britain |
Norman Hallows Great Britain |
| 1912 Stockholm |
Arnold Jackson Great Britain |
Abel Kiviat United States |
Norman Taber United States |
| 1920 Antwerp |
Albert Hill Great Britain |
Philip Baker Great Britain |
Lawrence Shields United States |
| 1924 Paris |
Paavo Nurmi Finland |
Willy Schärer Switzerland |
H. B. Stallard Great Britain |
| 1928 Amsterdam |
Harri Larva Finland |
Jules Ladoumègue France |
Eino Purje Finland |
| 1932 Los Angeles |
Luigi Beccali Italy |
Jerry Cornes Great Britain |
Phil Edwards Canada |
| 1936 Berlin |
Jack Lovelock New Zealand |
Glenn Cunningham United States |
Luigi Beccali Italy |
| 1948 London |
Henry Eriksson Sweden |
Lennart Strand Sweden |
Willem Slijkhuis Netherlands |
| 1952 Helsinki |
Josy Barthel Luxembourg |
Bob McMillen United States |
Werner Lueg Germany |
| 1956 Melbourne |
Ron Delany Ireland |
Klaus Richtzenhain United Team of Germany |
John Landy Australia |
| 1960 Rome |
Herb Elliott Australia |
Michel Jazy France |
István Rózsavölgyi Hungary |
| 1964 Tokyo |
Peter Snell New Zealand |
Josef Odložil Czechoslovakia |
John Davies New Zealand |
| 1968 Mexico City |
Kipchoge Keino Kenya |
Jim Ryun United States |
Bodo Tümmler West Germany |
| 1972 Munich |
Pekka Vasala Finland |
Kipchoge Keino Kenya |
Rod Dixon New Zealand |
| 1976 Montreal |
John Walker New Zealand |
Ivo Van Damme Belgium |
Paul-Heinz Wellmann West Germany |
| 1980 Moscow |
Sebastian Coe Great Britain |
Jürgen Straub East Germany |
Steve Ovett Great Britain |
| 1984 Los Angeles |
Sebastian Coe Great Britain |
Steve Cram Great Britain |
José Manuel Abascal Spain |
| 1988 Seoul |
Peter Rono Kenya |
Peter Elliott Great Britain |
Jens-Peter Herold East Germany |
| 1992 Barcelona |
Fermín Cacho Spain |
Rachid El Basir Morocco |
Mohamed Suleiman Qatar |
| 1996 Atlanta |
Noureddine Morceli Algeria |
Fermín Cacho Spain |
Stephen Kipkorir Kenya |
| 2000 Sydney |
Noah Ngeny Kenya |
Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco |
Bernard Lagat Kenya |
| 2004 Athens |
Hicham El Guerrouj Morocco |
Bernard Lagat Kenya |
Rui Silva Portugal |
| 2008 Beijing |
Asbel Kiprop Kenya |
Nick Willis New Zealand |
Mehdi Baala France |
| 2012 London |
Taoufik Makhloufi Algeria |
Leonel Manzano United States |
Abdalaati Iguider Morocco |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Matthew Centrowitz Jr. United States |
Taoufik Makhloufi Algeria |
Nick Willis New Zealand |
| 2020 Tokyo |
Jakob Ingebrigtsen Norway |
Timothy Cheruiyot Kenya |
Josh Kerr Great Britain |
| 2024 Paris |
Women
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 Munich |
Lyudmila Bragina Soviet Union |
Gunhild Hoffmeister East Germany |
Paola Pigni Italy |
| 1976 Montreal |
Tatyana Kazankina Soviet Union |
Gunhild Hoffmeister East Germany |
Ulrike Klapezynski East Germany |
| 1980 Moscow |
Tatyana Kazankina Soviet Union |
Christiane Wartenberg East Germany |
Nadiya Olizarenko Soviet Union |
| 1984 Los Angeles |
Gabriella Dorio Italy |
Doina Melinte Romania |
Maricica Puică Romania |
| 1988 Seoul |
Paula Ivan Romania |
Laimutė Baikauskaitė Soviet Union |
Tetyana Samolenko Soviet Union |
| 1992 Barcelona |
Hassiba Boulmerka Algeria |
Lyudmila Rogachova Unified Team |
Qu Yunxia China |
| 1996 Atlanta |
Svetlana Masterkova Russia |
Gabriela Szabo Romania |
Theresia Kiesl Austria |
| 2000 Sydney |
Nouria Mérah-Benida Algeria |
Violeta Szekely Romania |
Gabriela Szabo Romania |
| 2004 Athens |
Kelly Holmes Great Britain |
Tatyana Tomashova Russia |
Maria Cioncan Romania |
| 2008 Beijing |
Nancy Langat Kenya |
Iryna Lishchynska Ukraine |
Nataliya Tobias Ukraine |
| 2012 London |
Maryam Yusuf Jamal Bahrain |
Tatyana Tomashova Russia |
Abeba Aregawi Ethiopia |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Faith Kipyegon Kenya |
Genzebe Dibaba Ethiopia |
Jennifer Simpson United States |
| 2020 Tokyo |
Faith Kipyegon Kenya |
Laura Muir Great Britain |
Sifan Hassan Netherlands |
| 2024 Paris |
World Championships medalists
Men
| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 Helsinki |
Steve Cram (GBR) |
Steve Scott (USA) |
Saïd Aouita (MAR) |
| 1987 Rome |
 Abdi Bile (SOM) |
José Luis González (ESP) |
Jim Spivey (USA) |
| 1991 Tokyo |
Noureddine Morceli (ALG) |
Wilfred Kirochi (KEN) |
Hauke Fuhlbrügge (GER) |
| 1993 Stuttgart |
Noureddine Morceli (ALG) |
Fermín Cacho (ESP) |
Abdi Bile (SOM) |
| 1995 Gothenburg |
Noureddine Morceli (ALG) |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI) |
| 1997 Athens |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Fermín Cacho (ESP) |
Reyes Estévez (ESP) |
| 1999 Seville |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Noah Ngeny (KEN) |
Reyes Estévez (ESP) |
| 2001 Edmonton |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Bernard Lagat (KEN) |
Driss Maazouzi (FRA) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Mehdi Baala (FRA) |
 Ivan Heshko (UKR) |
| 2005 Helsinki |
Rashid Ramzi (BHR) |
Adil Kaouch (MAR) |
 Rui Silva (POR) |
| 2007 Osaka |
Bernard Lagat (USA) |
Rashid Ramzi (BHR) |
Shedrack Kibet Korir (KEN) |
| 2009 Berlin |
Yusuf Saad Kamel (BHR) |
 Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) |
Bernard Lagat (USA) |
| 2011 Daegu |
Asbel Kiprop (KEN) |
Silas Kiplagat (KEN) |
Matthew Centrowitz (USA) |
| 2013 Moscow |
Asbel Kiprop (KEN) |
Matthew Centrowitz (USA) |
 Johan Cronje (RSA) |
| 2015 Beijing |
Asbel Kiprop (KEN) |
Elijah Manangoi (KEN) |
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
| 2017 London |
Elijah Manangoi (KEN) |
Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) |
Filip Ingebrigtsen (NOR) |
| 2019 Doha |
Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) |
Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) |
 Marcin Lewandowski (POL) |
| 2022 Eugene |
Jake Wightman (GBR) |
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) |
Mohamed Katir (ESP) |
| 2023 Budapest |
Josh Kerr (GBR) |
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) |
Narve Gilje Nordås (NOR) |
Medalists by country
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya (KEN) |
5 | 6 | 1 | 12 |
| 2 | Morocco (MAR) |
4 | 2 | 2 | 8 |
| 3 | Algeria (ALG) |
3 | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Great Britain (GBR) |
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Bahrain (BHR) |
2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | United States (USA) |
1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | Somalia (SOM) |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 9 | Spain (ESP) |
0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 10 | Norway (NOR) |
0 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
| 11 | France (FRA) |
0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | Ethiopia (ETH) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 13 | Burundi (BDI) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Germany (GER) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Poland (POL) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Portugal (POR) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| South Africa (RSA) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Ukraine (UKR) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Women
| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 Helsinki |
Mary Decker (USA) |
Zamira Zaytseva (URS) |
Yekaterina Podkopayeva (URS) |
| 1987 Rome |
Tetyana Samolenko (URS) |
 Hildegard Körner (GDR) |
 Doina Melinte (ROU) |
| 1991 Tokyo |
Hassiba Boulmerka (ALG) |
Tetyana Dorovskikh (URS) |
Lyudmila Rogachova (URS) |
| 1993 Stuttgart |
Liu Dong (CHN) |
Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) |
Hassiba Boulmerka (ALG) |
| 1995 Gothenburg |
Hassiba Boulmerka (ALG) |
Kelly Holmes (GBR) |
Carla Sacramento (POR) |
| 1997 Athens |
Carla Sacramento (POR) |
Regina Jacobs (USA) |
 Anita Weyermann (SUI) |
| 1999 Seville |
Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) |
Regina Jacobs (USA) |
Kutre Dulecha (ETH) |
| 2001 Edmonton |
Gabriela Szabo (ROU) |
Violeta Szekely (ROU) |
Natalya Gorelova (RUS) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis |
Tatyana Tomashova (RUS) |
Süreyya Ayhan (TUR) |
Hayley Tullett (GBR) |
| 2005 Helsinki |
Tatyana Tomashova (RUS) |
Olga Yegorova (RUS) |
Bouchra Ghezielle (FRA) |
| 2007 Osaka |
Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
Iryna Lishchynska (UKR) |
 Daniela Yordanova (BUL) |
| 2009 Berlin |
Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
Lisa Dobriskey (GBR) |
Shannon Rowbury (USA) |
| 2011 Daegu |
Jennifer Simpson (USA) |
Hannah England (GBR) |
Natalia Rodríguez (ESP) |
| 2013 Moscow |
Abeba Aregawi (SWE) |
Jennifer Simpson (USA) |
Hellen Obiri (KEN) |
| 2015 Beijing |
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) |
Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
Sifan Hassan (NED) |
| 2017 London |
Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
Jennifer Simpson (USA) |
Caster Semenya (RSA) |
| 2019 Doha |
Sifan Hassan (NED) |
Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) |
| 2022 Eugene |
Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) |
Laura Muir (GBR) |
| 2023 Budapest |
Faith Kipyegon (KEN) |
Diribe Welteji (ETH) |
Sifan Hassan (NED) |
Medalists by country
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya (KEN) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 2 | Russia (RUS) |
3 | 1 | 1 | 5 |
| 3 | United States (USA) |
2 | 4 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Algeria (ALG) |
2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| 5 | Bahrain (BHR) |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 7 | Ethiopia (ETH) |
1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| Soviet Union (URS) |
1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | |
| 9 | Romania (ROU) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| 10 | Netherlands (NED) |
1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 11 | Portugal (POR) |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | China (CHN) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Sweden (SWE) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| 14 | Great Britain (GBR) |
0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 | East Germany (GDR) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Ireland (IRL) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Ukraine (UKR) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Turkey (TUR) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 19 | Bulgaria (BUL) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| France (FRA) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Spain (ESP) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Switzerland (SUI) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
European Championships medalists
Men
Women
World Indoor Championships medalists
Men
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Paris | Michael Hillardt (AUS) |
José Luis González (ESP) |
Joseph Chesire (KEN) |
| 1987 Indianapolis |
Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) |
José Manuel Abascal (ESP) |
Han Kulker (NED) |
| 1989 Budapest |
Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) |
Hauke Fuhlbrügge (GDR) |
Jeff Atkinson (USA) |
| 1991 Seville |
Noureddine Morceli (ALG) |
Fermín Cacho (ESP) |
Mário Silva (POR) |
| 1993 Toronto |
Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) |
David Strang (GBR) |
 Branko Zorko (CRO) |
| 1995 Barcelona |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Mateo Cañellas (ESP) |
Erik Nedeau (USA) |
| 1997 Paris |
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) |
Rüdiger Stenzel (GER) |
William Tanui (KEN) |
| 1999 Maebashi |
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) |
Laban Rotich (KEN) |
Andrés Manuel Díaz (ESP) |
| 2001 Lisbon |
Rui Silva (POR) |
Reyes Estévez (ESP) |
Noah Ngeny (KEN) |
| 2003 Birmingham |
Driss Maazouzi (FRA) |
Bernard Lagat (KEN) |
Abdelkader Hachlaf (MAR) |
| 2004 Budapest |
Paul Korir (KEN) |
Ivan Heshko (UKR) |
Laban Rotich (KEN) |
| 2006 Moscow |
Ivan Heshko (UKR) |
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) |
Elkanah Angwenyi (KEN) |
| 2008 Valencia |
Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) |
Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) |
Juan Carlos Higuero (ESP) |
| 2010 Doha |
Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) |
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
Haron Keitany (KEN) |
| 2012 Istanbul |
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
İlham Tanui Özbilen (TUR) |
Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH) |
| 2014 Sopot |
 Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) |
Aman Wote (ETH) |
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
| 2016 Portland |
Matthew Centrowitz Jr. (USA) |
 Jakub Holuša (CZE) |
 Nick Willis (NZL) |
| 2018 Birmingham |
Samuel Tefera (ETH) |
Marcin Lewandowski (POL) |
Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
| 2022 Belgrade |
Samuel Tefera (ETH) |
Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) |
Abel Kipsang (KEN) |
| 2024 Glasgow |
Geordie Beamish (NZL) |
Cole Hocker (USA) |
Hobbs Kessler (USA) |
Women
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Paris | Elly van Hulst (NED) |
Fița Lovin (ROU) |
Brit McRoberts (CAN) |
| 1987 Indianapolis |
Doina Melinte (ROU) |
Tatyana Samolenko (URS) |
Svetlana Kitova (URS) |
| 1989 Budapest |
Doina Melinte (ROU) |
Svetlana Kitova (URS) |
Yvonne Mai (GDR) |
| 1991 Seville |
Lyudmila Rogachova (URS) |
Ivana Kubešová (TCH) |
Tudorita Chidu (ROU) |
| 1993 Toronto |
 Yekaterina Podkopayeva (RUS) |
Violeta Beclea (ROU) |
Sandra Gasser (SUI) |
| 1995 Barcelona |
Regina Jacobs (USA) |
Carla Sacramento (POR) |
Maite Zúñiga (ESP) |
| 1997 Paris |
Yekaterina Podkopayeva (RUS) |
Patricia Djaté-Taillard (FRA) |
Lidia Chojecka (POL) |
| 1999 Maebashi |
Gabriela Szabo (ROU) |
Violeta Beclea-Szekely (ROU) |
Lidia Chojecka (POL) |
| 2001 Lisbon |
Hasna Benhassi (MAR) |
Violeta Beclea-Szekely (ROU) |
Natalya Gorelova (RUS) |
| 2003 Birmingham |
Regina Jacobs (USA) |
Kelly Holmes (GBR) |
Yekaterina Rozenberg (RUS) |
| 2004 Budapest |
Kutre Dulecha (ETH) |
Carmen Douma-Hussar (CAN) |
Gulnara Galkina (RUS) |
| 2006 Moscow |
Yuliya Fomenko (RUS) |
Yelena Soboleva (RUS) |
Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
| 2008 Valencia |
Gelete Burka (ETH) |
Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
Daniela Yordanova (BUL) |
| 2010 Doha |
Kalkidan Gezahegne (ETH) |
Natalia Rodríguez (ESP) |
Gelete Burka (ETH) |
| 2012 Istanbul |
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) |
Mariem Alaoui Selsouli (MAR) |
Hind Dehiba (FRA) |
| 2014 Sopot |
Abeba Aregawi (SWE) |
Axumawit Embaye (ETH) |
Nicole Sifuentes (CAN) |
| 2016 Portland |
Sifan Hassan (NED) |
Dawit Seyaum (ETH) |
Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) |
| 2018 Birmingham |
Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) |
Laura Muir (GBR) |
Sifan Hassan (NED) |
| 2022 Belgrade |
Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) |
Axumawit Embaye (ETH) |
Hirut Meshesha (ETH) |
| 2024 Glasgow |
Freweyni Hailu (ETH) |
Nikki Hiltz (USA) |
Emily Mackay (USA) |
- Known as the World Indoor Games
Season's bests
Men
|
Women
|
- "i" indicates performance on 200m indoor track
Other sports
1,500 metres is also an event in swimming, speed skating, and wheelchair racing. The world records for the distance in swimming for men are 14:31.02 (swum in a 50-metre pool) by Sun Yang, 14:08.06 (swum in a 25-metre pool) by Gregorio Paltrinieri; and by women 15:25.48 (swum in a 50-metre pool) by Katie Ledecky, and 15:19.71 (swum in a 25-metre pool) by Mireia Belmonte García.
The world records for the distance in speed skating are 1:40.17 by Kjeld Nuis and 1:49.83 by Miho Takagi.
The records for wheelchair racing vary by disability classification:
- T51: 4:53.50 by Hélder Mestre
- T52: 3:29.79 by Raymond Martin
- T53 and T54: 2:51.84 by Brent Lakatos
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1500 metres Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.