3000 metres steeplechase facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Athletics3000 metres steeplechase |
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3000 m steeplechase at Rio 2016
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| World records | |
| Men |  Lamecha Girma 7:52.11 (2023) |
| Women |  Beatrice Chepkoech 8:44.32 (2018) |
| Olympic records | |
| Men | Conseslus Kipruto 8:03.28 (2016) |
| Women |  Gulnara Galkina 8:58.81 (2008) |
| World Championship records | |
| Men | Ezekiel Kemboi 8:00.43 (2009) |
| Women |  Norah Jeruto 8:53.02 (2022) |
The 3000 metres steeplechase is an exciting track and field race. It's like an obstacle race where runners have to jump over barriers and a special water pit. The race is 3000 metres long, which is about 1.86 miles. It gets its name from horse racing, where horses also jump over obstacles.
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How the Race Works
The 3000 metres steeplechase is a big event in sports. You can see it at the Summer Olympics and the World Athletics Championships. It's officially recognized by World Athletics, the group that sets the rules for track and field.
Runners face two types of obstacles: regular barriers and one water jump. The barriers are different heights for men and women.
- For men, the barriers are about 91 centimetres (36 inches) tall.
- For women, they are about 76 centimetres (30 inches) tall.
The race track has four regular barriers and one water jump. During the race, athletes complete seven full laps. They must clear a total of 28 regular barriers and jump over the water pit seven times. The race starts with a short part of a lap without any barriers.
The Water Jump
The water jump is a special obstacle. It has a barrier followed by a pit of water. The pit is about 3.66 metres (12 feet) wide and square. The water is deepest right after the barrier, about 70 centimetres (28 inches) deep. It gets shallower as you get further from the barrier. This means if you jump further, you land in less water!
Unlike hurdles that fall over easily, steeplechase barriers are fixed. They don't fall if a runner hits them. Athletes can jump over them or even step on top of them to get across. The water jump is usually on one of the turns of the track.
Top Records in Steeplechase
Athletes from all over the world compete to set the fastest times in the 3000 metres steeplechase. Here are some of the best performances ever recorded.
Men's Top Times
The current world record for men is held by Lamecha Girma from Ethiopia. He ran the race in an amazing 7 minutes and 52.11 seconds in June 2023. Other top runners include Saif Saaeed Shaheen and Brimin Kipruto.
Women's Top Times
For women, the world record belongs to Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya. She set her record of 8 minutes and 44.32 seconds in July 2018. Winfred Yavi and Ruth Jebet have also achieved incredibly fast times.
Records That Were Changed
Sometimes, an athlete's record might be removed later. This happens if it's found that they didn't follow the rules, for example, by using banned substances to improve their performance. This ensures fair play in sports.
Steeplechase Champions
The steeplechase is a highlight at major athletic events. Athletes train hard to win medals at the Olympics and World Championships.
Olympic Winners
You can find a full list of all the men who have won medals in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the Olympic Games here:
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1920 Antwerp |
Percy Hodge Great Britain |
Patrick Flynn United States |
Ernesto Ambrosini Italy |
| 1924 Paris |
Ville Ritola Finland |
Elias Katz Finland |
Paul Bontemps France |
| 1928 Amsterdam |
Toivo Loukola Finland |
Paavo Nurmi Finland |
Ove Andersen Finland |
| 1932 Los Angeles |
Volmari Iso-Hollo Finland |
Thomas Evenson Great Britain |
Joe McCluskey United States |
| 1936 Berlin |
Volmari Iso-Hollo Finland |
Kalle Tuominen Finland |
Alfred Dompert Germany |
| 1948 London |
Tore Sjöstrand Sweden |
Erik Elmsäter Sweden |
Göte Hagström Sweden |
| 1952 Helsinki |
Horace Ashenfelter United States |
Vladimir Kazantsev Soviet Union |
John Disley Great Britain |
| 1956 Melbourne |
Chris Brasher Great Britain |
Sándor Rozsnyói Hungary |
Ernst Larsen Norway |
| 1960 Rome |
Zdzisław Krzyszkowiak Poland |
Nikolay Sokolov Soviet Union |
Semyon Rzhishchin Soviet Union |
| 1964 Tokyo |
Gaston Roelants Belgium |
Maurice Herriott Great Britain |
Ivan Belyayev Soviet Union |
| 1968 Mexico City |
Amos Biwott Kenya |
Benjamin Kogo Kenya |
George Young United States |
| 1972 Munich |
Kipchoge Keino Kenya |
Ben Jipcho Kenya |
Tapio Kantanen Finland |
| 1976 Montreal |
Anders Gärderud Sweden |
Bronisław Malinowski Poland |
Frank Baumgartl East Germany |
| 1980 Moscow |
Bronisław Malinowski Poland |
Filbert Bayi Tanzania |
Eshetu Tura Ethiopia |
| 1984 Los Angeles |
Julius Korir Kenya |
Joseph Mahmoud France |
Brian Diemer United States |
| 1988 Seoul |
Julius Kariuki Kenya |
Peter Koech Kenya |
Mark Rowland Great Britain |
| 1992 Barcelona |
Matthew Birir Kenya |
Patrick Sang Kenya |
William Mutwol Kenya |
| 1996 Atlanta |
Joseph Keter Kenya |
Moses Kiptanui Kenya |
Alessandro Lambruschini Italy |
| 2000 Sydney |
Reuben Kosgei Kenya |
Wilson Boit Kipketer Kenya |
Ali Ezzine Morocco |
| 2004 Athens |
Ezekiel Kemboi Kenya |
Brimin Kipruto Kenya |
Paul Kipsiele Koech Kenya |
| 2008 Beijing |
Brimin Kipruto Kenya |
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad France |
Richard Mateelong Kenya |
| 2012 London |
Ezekiel Kemboi Kenya |
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad France |
Abel Mutai Kenya |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Conseslus Kipruto Kenya |
Evan Jager United States |
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad France |
| 2020 Tokyo |
Soufiane El Bakkali Morocco |
Lamecha Girma Ethiopia |
Benjamin Kigen Kenya |
| 2024 Paris |
And here are the women who have won Olympic medals in this challenging race:
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 Beijing[nb] |
Gulnara Samitova-Galkina Russia |
Eunice Jepkorir Kenya |
Tatyana Petrova Russia |
| 2012 London[nb2] |
Habiba Ghribi Tunisia |
Sofia Assefa Ethiopia |
Milcah Chemos Cheywa Kenya |
| 2016 Rio de Janeiro |
Ruth Jebet Bahrain |
Hyvin Jepkemoi Kenya |
Emma Coburn United States |
| 2020 Tokyo |
Peruth Chemutai Uganda |
Courtney Frerichs United States |
Hyvin Jepkemoi Kenya |
| 2024 Paris |
- nb Yekaterina Volkova of Russia was originally the 2008 women's steeplechase bronze medalist, but she was subsequently disqualified for doping and her teammate Arkhipova was allocated the medal.
- nb2 Yuliya Zaripova of Russia was originally the 2012 women's steeplechase champion, but she was subsequently disqualified for doping. Ghribi, Sofia Assefa and Chemos were all elevated one place as a result.
World Championship Winners
The World Athletics Championships also feature the 3000 metres steeplechase. Here are the medal winners from this important global competition:
| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 Helsinki |
 Patriz Ilg (FRG) |
 Bogusław Mamiński (POL) |
 Colin Reitz (GBR) |
| 1987 Rome |
 Francesco Panetta (ITA) |
 Hagen Melzer (GDR) |
 William Van Dijck (BEL) |
| 1991 Tokyo |
 Moses Kiptanui (KEN) |
Patrick Sang (KEN) |
 Azzedine Brahmi (ALG) |
| 1993 Stuttgart |
Moses Kiptanui (KEN) |
Patrick Sang (KEN) |
Alessandro Lambruschini (ITA) |
| 1995 Gothenburg |
Moses Kiptanui (KEN) |
Christopher Kosgei (KEN) |
 Saad Al-Asmari (KSA) |
| 1997 Athens |
Wilson Boit Kipketer (KEN) |
Moses Kiptanui (KEN) |
Bernard Barmasai (KEN) |
| 1999 Seville |
Christopher Kosgei (KEN) |
Wilson Boit Kipketer (KEN) |
 Ali Ezzine (MAR) |
| 2001 Edmonton |
Reuben Kosgei (KEN) |
Ali Ezzine (MAR) |
Bernard Barmasai (KEN) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis |
 Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT) |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
 Eliseo Martín (ESP) |
| 2005 Helsinki |
Saif Saaeed Shaheen (QAT) |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
Brimin Kipruto (KEN) |
| 2007 Osaka |
Brimin Kipruto (KEN) |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
Richard Mateelong (KEN) |
| 2009 Berlin |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
Richard Mateelong (KEN) |
 Bouabdellah Tahri (FRA) |
| 2011 Daegu |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
Brimin Kipruto (KEN) |
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (FRA) |
| 2013 Moscow |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) |
Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad (FRA) |
| 2015 Beijing |
Ezekiel Kemboi (KEN) |
Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) |
Brimin Kipruto (KEN) |
| 2017 London |
Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) |
Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) |
 Evan Jager (USA) |
| 2019 Doha |
Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) |
 Lamecha Girma (ETH) |
Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) |
| 2022 Eugene |
Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) |
Lamecha Girma (ETH) |
Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) |
| 2023 Budapest |
Soufiane El Bakkali (MAR) |
Lamecha Girma (ETH) |
Abraham Kibiwott (KEN) |
Medal table
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kenya (KEN) |
13 | 12 | 7 | 32 |
| 2 | Morocco (MAR) |
2 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| 3 |  Qatar (QAT) |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Italy (ITA) |
1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 5 |  Germany (GER) |
1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | Ethiopia (ETH) |
0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 7 | East Germany (GDR) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Poland (POL) |
0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| 9 | France (FRA) |
0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 10 |  Algeria (ALG) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Belgium (BEL) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Great Britain (GBR) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Saudi Arabia (KSA) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 Spain (ESP) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
 United States (USA) |
0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| Totals (15 entries) | 19 | 19 | 19 | 57 | |
And for the women's event at the World Championships:
| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Helsinki |
 Dorcus Inzikuru (UGA) |
 Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) |
Jeruto Kiptum (KEN) |
| 2007 Osaka |
Yekaterina Volkova (RUS) |
Tatyana Petrova (RUS) |
Eunice Jepkorir (KEN) |
| 2009 Berlin |
Vacant | Yuliya Zarudneva (RUS) |
Milcah Chemos Cheywa (KEN) |
| 2011 Daegu |
 Habiba Ghribi (TUN) |
Milcah Chemos Cheywa (KEN) |
Mercy Wanjiku (KEN) |
| 2013 Moscow |
Milcah Chemos Cheywa (KEN) |
Lydiah Chepkurui (KEN) |
Sofia Assefa (ETH) |
| 2015 Beijing |
Hyvin Jepkemoi (KEN) |
Habiba Ghribi (TUN) |
Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER) |
| 2017 London |
Emma Coburn (USA) |
Courtney Frerichs (USA) |
Hyvin Jepkemoi (KEN) |
| 2019 Doha |
Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) |
Emma Coburn (USA) |
Gesa Felicitas Krause (GER) |
| 2022 Eugene |
 Norah Jeruto (KAZ) |
Werkuha Getachew (ETH) |
Mekides Abebe (ETH) |
| 2023 Budapest |
 Winfred Yavi (BHR) |
Beatrice Chepkoech (KEN) |
Faith Cherotich (KEN) |
Images for kids
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The water jump in the men's steeplechase at the 1908 Summer Olympics.
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Women's race at the 2007 World Championships.
