Aaron O'Neill
Research lead for society, economy, and politics: Europe & global
Get in touch with us nowGold medal times in the 5,000m at the Summer Olympics 1912-2020
The 5,000 meter was introduced to the men's Olympic roster in 1912, while the women's event did not make its debut until 1996, where it replaced the 3,000m race. Vivian Cheriyot set the Olympic record with her win in 2016, while Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey set the women's world record of 14 minutes, 6.62 seconds in 2020. In the men's event, Kenenisa Bekele set the Olympic record with his victory in 2008, while gold medallist at the Tokyo Games, Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei, set the world record of 12 minutes, 35.36 seconds in 2020.
In early Olympic Games, Finnish men dominated the 5,000m, however Ethiopian performances in recent years have seen them claim the same number of gold medals, with both countries having won six apiece across both events. Finland's Lasse Virén was the first athlete to win back-to-back 5,000m golds in 1972 and 1976, and Mo Farah matched this in 2012 and 2016. Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba is the only woman to have won two golds, in 2004 and 2012 respectively. Finland's Paavo Nurmi and Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj are the only athletes to have won gold medals in both the 1500m and 5,000m, in 1924 and 2004 respectively; while several athletes, including the women's champion in 2020, Sifan Hassan, have found success in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.
In early Olympic Games, Finnish men dominated the 5,000m, however Ethiopian performances in recent years have seen them claim the same number of gold medals, with both countries having won six apiece across both events. Finland's Lasse Virén was the first athlete to win back-to-back 5,000m golds in 1972 and 1976, and Mo Farah matched this in 2012 and 2016. Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba is the only woman to have won two golds, in 2004 and 2012 respectively. Finland's Paavo Nurmi and Morocco's Hicham El Guerrouj are the only athletes to have won gold medals in both the 1500m and 5,000m, in 1924 and 2004 respectively; while several athletes, including the women's champion in 2020, Sifan Hassan, have found success in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.
