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 is a very important middle distance track event in athletics. Runners race 1,500 meters, which is the same as 1.5 kilometers. This distance is about 15⁄16 of a mile. People often call it "the metric mile" because it's close to a full mile.
This race has been part of the Summer Olympics since 1896. It has also been featured at the World Championships in Athletics since 1983.
To run the 1500 metres, athletes need good endurance. It's similar to the 800 metres race. But the 1500 metres needs more aerobic fitness. This means your body uses oxygen to create energy. You also need some anaerobic fitness. This is when your body makes energy without oxygen.
For example, when Hicham El Guerrouj set the world record in 1998, he ran each 400-metre lap in under 55 seconds. That's super fast!
The 1,500-metre race is three and three-quarter laps around a standard 400-metre track. In the 1970s and 1980s, runners from Great Britain often won this race. Some athletes from Finland, America, or New Zealand also did well.
By the 1990s, many African runners started winning Olympic medals. These included athletes from Kenya, Ethiopia, and other East African countries. Runners from North Africa, like Morocco and Algeria, also became very strong.
In the 2020s, European men started to shine again. Jakob Ingebrigtsen from Norway won Olympic Gold in 2021. The next year, Jake Wightman from Scotland won the World Championship. In the women's race, Faith Kipyegon from Kenya continued to dominate. However, European runners like Sifan Hassan and Laura Muir, and American runners like Jenny Simpson, also competed for top spots.
In the Modern Olympic Games, the men's 1,500-metre race has always been included. The first winner was Edwin Flack from Australia in 1896. He also won the 800-metre race. The women's 1,500-metre race was added to the Summer Olympics in 1972. Lyudmila Bragina from the Soviet Union won the first gold medal.
Some of the fastest women's times were set by Chinese runners. These times were controversial. At least one of those athletes later said they were part of a special training program. The world record for women was finally broken by Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia in 2015.
In American high schools, the 1,600-metre run is the official distance. It's also called the "metric mile". However, the mile run (which is 1609.344 metres) is often run instead. This is because people in America are more used to US customary units. To compare times, 1,500-metre results are often changed to mile run equivalents.
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Race Strategy: How to Win
Many 1500-metre races, especially in big championships, start slowly. Then, the pace gets much faster in the last lap. Runners try to get into a good position for a final sprint.
It's hard to keep a fast pace for the whole race. So, many record-breaking races use "pacemakers." These are runners who lead the first few laps at a very fast speed. They help the main runners achieve a quick time, even if they don't finish the race themselves.
As former world record holder Filbert Bayi once said, "The person who wins the race is behind watching." This means it's often smart to save energy and watch your opponents.
Fastest Times by Continent
Here are the fastest times recorded for the 1500 metres in different parts of the world. These records were updated on September 16, 2023.
| Area | Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation | |
| Africa | 3:26.00 WR | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco |
3:49.11 WR | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya |
| Asia | 3:29.14 | Rashid Ramzi |  Bahrain |
3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | China |
| Europe | 3:27.14 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway |
3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands |
| North, Central America and Caribbean |
3:29.02 | Yared Nuguse |  United States |
3:54.99 | Shelby Houlihan | United States |
| Oceania | 3:29.41 | Oliver Hoare |  Australia |
3:56.92 | Linden Hall | Australia |
| South America | 3:33.25 | Hudson de Souza |  Brazil |
4:05.67 | Letitia Vriesde |  Suriname |
All-Time Top 25 Runners
This section shows the fastest 1500-metre times ever recorded.
Men's Outdoor Records
These are the best times for men in outdoor races, updated July 16, 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's Outdoor Records
These are the best times for women in outdoor races, 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's Indoor Records
These are the best times for men in indoor races, updated February 11, 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's Indoor Records
These are the best times for women in indoor races, updated February 11, 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 |
Young Athletes' Records
This section shows the fastest times for younger athletes. U20 means Under 20 years old, and U18 means Under 18 years old. These records were updated on July 16, 2023.
| Age group | Men | Women | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation | |
| U20 | 3:28.81 | Ronald Kwemoi | Kenya |
3:51.34 | Lang Yinglai | China |
| U18 | 3:33.26 | Cameron Myers | Australia |
3:54.52 | Zhang Ling | China |
Olympic and World Champions
You can find lists of medal winners for the 1500 metres at major events here:
- Olympic medalists
- World Championships medalists
- European Championships medalists (men)
- European Championships medalists (women)
World Indoor Championships Medalists (Men)
This table shows the medal winners for the men's 1500 metres at the World Indoor Championships.
| 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) |
World Indoor Championships Medalists (Women)
This table shows the medal winners for the women's 1500 metres at the World Indoor Championships.
| 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) |
- The World Indoor Games was an earlier name for this event.
1500 Metres in Other Sports
The 1500 metres is not just a running event! It's also a distance in other sports:
- Swimming: Swimmers race 1500 metres in pools. The men's world record in a 50-metre pool is 14:31.02 by Sun Yang. In a 25-metre pool, it's 14:08.06 by Gregorio Paltrinieri. For women, the record in a 50-metre pool is 15:25.48 by Katie Ledecky. In a 25-metre pool, it's 15:19.71 by Mireia Belmonte García.
- Speed Skating: Skaters also compete over 1500 metres. The world record for men is 1:40.17 by Kjeld Nuis. For women, it's 1:49.83 by Miho Takagi.
- Wheelchair Racing: Athletes in wheelchairs race 1500 metres too. The records depend on the athlete's 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
