# 1500 metres

The 1500 metres or 1,500-metre run 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 run, from which it derives its nickname "the metric mile".
The demands of the race are similar to that of the 800 metre run, but with a slightly higher emphasis on aerobic endurance and a slightly lower sprint speed requirement. The 1500 metre run is predominantly aerobic, but anaerobic conditioning is also required.
Each lap run during the men's world-record race of 3:26.00, run by Hicham El Guerrouj of Morocco in 1998, averaged just under 55 seconds per lap. Since El Guerrouj, only three other men in history have broken the 3:27 barrier; Bernard Lagat, Asbel Kiprop, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen. El Guerrouj remains the only man to break the 3:27 barrier more than once, having done so five times.
1,500 metres is three and three-quarter laps around a 400-metre track (seven and a half laps around an indoor 200 m 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 mid-2010s and 2020s, European and American runners began to emerge again in the men's event. American Matthew Centrowitz Jr. won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics. In the 2020 Summer Olympics, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the youngest of a dynasty of Norwegian middle-distance runners, won Olympic Gold, while Scottish and British runner Jake Wightman won the World Championship title the following year at the head of an all-European podium. Wightman's compatriot Josh Kerr won gold at the world championships the year after. In the 2024 Summer Olympics, Americans and Europeans continued to dominate the podium, with Cole Hocker, Kerr, and Yared Nuguse earning gold, silver, and bronze respectively. 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. Unfortunately for the European and American contenders Australian Jessica Hull lived up to her expectations and took the silver medal, cementing her place as one of the greatest female 1500m runners of all time, especially after running the 5th fastest 1500m ever two weeks earlier in a race where Faith Kipyegon won and broke the world record.
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.

## 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 6 August 2024.
| Area | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women |
| Area | Time | Athlete | Nation | Time | Athlete | Nation |
| Africa (records) | 3:26.00 WR | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco | 3:49.04 WR | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya |
| Asia (records) | 3:29.14 | Rashid Ramzi | Bahrain | 3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | China |
| Europe (records) | 3:26.73 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands |
| North, Central America and Caribbean (records) | 3:27.65 | Cole Hocker | United States | 3:54.99 | Shelby Houlihan | United States |
| Oceania (records) | 3:29.41 | Oliver Hoare | Australia | 3:50.83 | Jessica Hull | Australia |
| South America (records) | 3:33.25 | Hudson de Souza | Brazil | 4:05.67 | Letitia Vriesde | Suriname |

## All-time top 25

* Tables show data for two definitions of "Top 25" - the top 25 1500m times and the top 25 athletes:
* - denotes top performance for athletes in the top 25 1500m times
* - denotes lesser performances, still in the top 25 1500m times, by repeat athletes
* - denotes top performance (only) for other top 25 athletes who fall outside the top 25 1500m times

### Men (outdoor)

* Updated 22 August 2024.
| 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 |
| 4 | 6 | 3:26.73 | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 12 July 2024 | Monaco |
| | 7 | 3:26.89 | El Guerrouj #4 | | 16 August 2002 | Zürich |
| | 8 | 3:26.96 | El Guerrouj #5 | | 8 September 2002 | Rieti |
| | 9 | 3:27.14 | Ingebrigtsen #2 | | 16 July 2023 | Chorzów |
| | 10 | 3:27.21 | El Guerrouj #6 | | 11 August 2000 | Zürich |
| | 11 | 3:27.34 | El Guerrouj #7 | | 19 July 2002 | Monaco |
| 5 | 12 | 3:27.37 | Noureddine Morceli | Algeria | 12 July 1995 | Nice |
| | 13 | 3:27.40 | Lagat #2 | | 6 August 2004 | Zürich |
| | 14 | 3:27.52 | Morceli #2 | | 25 July 1995 | Monaco |
| | 15 | 3:27.64 | El Guerrouj #8 | | 6 August 2004 | Zürich |
| 6 | 15 | 3:27.64 | Silas Kiplagat | Kenya | 18 July 2014 | Monaco |
| | 17 | 3:27.65 | El Guerrouj #9 | | 24 August 1999 | Seville |
| 7 | 17 | 3:27.65 | Cole Hocker | United States | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| | 19 | 3:27.72 | Kiprop #2 | | 19 July 2013 | Monaco |
| 8 | 20 | 3:27.79 | Josh Kerr | Great Britain | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| 9 | 21 | 3:27.80 | Yared Nuguse | United States | 6 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| | 22 | 3:27.83 | Ingebrigtsen #3 | | 22 August 2024 | Lausanne |
| | 23 | 3:27.91 | Lagat #3 | | 19 July 2002 | Monaco |
| | 24 | 3:27.95 | Ingebrigtsen #4 | | 15 June 2023 | Oslo |
| 10 | 25 | 3:28.12 | Noah Ngeny | Kenya | 11 August 2000 | Zürich |
| 11 | | 3:28.28 | Timothy Cheruiyot | Kenya | 9 July 2021 | Monaco |
| 12 | | 3:28.75 | Taoufik Makhloufi | Algeria | 17 July 2015 | Monaco |
| 13 | | 3:28.76 | Mohamed Katir | Spain | 9 July 2021 | Monaco |
| 14 | | 3:28.79 | Abdalaati Iguider | Morocco | 17 July 2015 | Monaco |
| 15 | | 3:28.80 | Elijah Manangoi | Kenya | 21 July 2017 | Monaco |
| 15 | | 3:28.80 | Brian Komen | Kenya | 12 July 2024 | Monaco |
| 17 | | 3:28.81 | Mo Farah | Great Britain | 19 July 2013 | Monaco |
| 17 | | 3:28.81 | Ronald Kwemoi | Kenya | 18 July 2014 | Monaco |
| 19 | | 3:28.95 | Fermín Cacho | Spain | 13 August 1997 | Zürich |
| 20 | | 3:28.98 | Mehdi Baala | France | 5 September 2003 | Brussels |
| 21 | | 3:29.02 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | Kenya | 14 July 2006 | Rome |
| 22 | | 3:29.11 | Abel Kipsang | Kenya | 16 July 2023 | Chorzów |
| 23 | | 3:29.14 | Rashid Ramzi | Bahrain | 14 July 2006 | Rome |
| 24 | | 3:29.18 | Vénuste Niyongabo | Burundi | 22 August 1997 | Brussels |
| 24 | | 3:29.18 | Mario García | Spain | 15 June 2023 | Oslo |

### Women (outdoor)

* Updated 30 August 2024.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 3:49.04 | Faith Kipyegon | Kenya | 7 July 2024 | Paris |
| | 2 | 3:49.11 | Kipyegon #2 | | 2 June 2023 | Florence |
| 2 | 3 | 3:50.07 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | 17 July 2015 | Monaco |
| 3 | 4 | 3:50.30 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia | 20 April 2024 | Xiamen |
| | 5 | 3:50.37 | Kipyegon #3 | | 10 August 2022 | Monaco |
| 4 | 6 | 3:50.46 | Qu Yunxia | China | 11 September 1993 | Beijing |
| | 7 | 3:50.72 | Kipyegon #4 | | 16 September 2023 | Eugene |
| 5 | 8 | 3:50.83 | Jessica Hull | Australia | 7 July 2024 | Paris |
| 6 | 9 | 3:50.98 | Jiang Bo | China | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
| | 10 | 3:51.07 | Kipyegon #5 | | 9 July 2021 | Monaco |
| | 11 | 3:51.29 | Kipyegon #6 | | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| 7 | 12 | 3:51.34 | Lang Yinglai | China | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
| | 13 | 3:51.41+ | Kipyegon #7 | | 21 July 2023 | Monaco |
| 8 | 14 | 3:51.92 | Wang Junxia | China | 11 September 1993 | Beijing |
| 9 | 15 | 3:51.95 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 5 October 2019 | Doha |
| 10 | 16 | 3:52.47 | Tatyana Kazankina | Soviet Union | 13 August 1980 | Zürich |
| | 17 | 3:52.56 | Hull #2 | | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| | 18 | 3:52.59 | Kipyegon #8 | | 28 May 2022 | Eugene |
| 11 | 19 | 3:52.61 | Georgia Bell | Great Britain | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| 12 | 20 | 3:52.75 | Diribe Welteji | Ethiopia | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| | 21 | 3:52.89 | Kipyegon #9 | | 30 August 2024 | Rome |
| | 22 | 3:52.96 | Kipyegon #10 | | 18 July 2022 | Eugene |
| | 23 | 3:53.11 | Kipyegon #11 | | 6 August 2021 | Tokyo |
| 13 | 24 | 3:53.22 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia | 20 April 2024 | Xiamen |
| | 25 | 3:53.23 | Kipyegon #12 | | 21 August 2021 | Eugene |
| 14 | | 3:53.37 | Laura Muir | Great Britain | 10 August 2024 | Saint-Denis |
| 15 | | 3:53.91 | Yin Lili | China | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
| 16 | | 3:53.96 | Paula Ivan | Romania | 1 October 1988 | Seoul |
| 17 | | 3:53.97 | Lan Lixin | China | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
| 18 | | 3:54.16 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia | 30 August 2024 | Rome |
| 19 | | 3:54.23 | Olga Dvirna | Soviet Union | 27 July 1982 | Kyiv |
| 20 | | 3:54.52 | Zhang Ling | China | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
| 21 | | 3:54.87 | Hirut Meshesha | Ethiopia | 16 July 2023 | Chorzów |
| 22 | | 3:54.99 | Shelby Houlihan | United States | 5 October 2019 | Doha |
| 23 | | 3:55.07 | Dong Yanmei | China | 18 October 1997 | Shanghai |
| 24 | | 3:55.30 | Hassiba Boulmerka | Algeria | 8 August 1992 | Barcelona |
| 25 | | 3:55.33 | Süreyya Ayhan | Turkey | 5 September 2003 | Brussels |
| 25 | | 3:55.33 | Nikki Hiltz | United States | 30 June 2024 | Eugene |

### Men (indoor)

* Updated 13 February 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 3:29.63+ | Jakob Ingebrigtsen | Norway | 13 February 2025 | Liévin |
| | 2 | 3:30.60 | Ingebrigtsen #2 | | 17 February 2022 | Liévin |
| 2 | 3 | 3:31.04 | Samuel Tefera | Ethiopia | 16 February 2019 | Birmingham |
| 3 | 4 | 3:31.18 | Hicham El Guerrouj | Morocco | 2 February 1997 | Stuttgart |
| 4 | 5 | 3:31.25+ | Yomif Kejelcha | Ethiopia | 3 March 2019 | Boston |
| | 6 | 3:31.58 | Kejelcha #2 | | 3 March 2019 | Birmingham |
| 5 | 7 | 3:31.74+ | Yared Nuguse | United States | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 6 | 8 | 3:31.76 | Haile Gebrselassie | Ethiopia | 1 February 1998 | Stuttgart |
| | 9 | 3:31.80 | Ingebrigtsen #3 | | 9 February 2021 | Liévin |
| 7 | 10 | 3:31.89+ | Hobbs Kessler | United States | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| | 11 | 3:32.01 | El Guerrouj #2 | | 22 February 1998 | Liévin |
| 8 | 12 | 3:32.11 | Laban Rotich | Kenya | 1 February 1998 | Stuttgart |
| 9 | 13 | 3:32.24+ | Azeddine Habz | France | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| | 14 | 3:32.29 | Habz #2 | | 13 February 2025 | Liévin |
| 10 | 15 | 3:32.35 | Olli Hoare | Australia | 13 February 2021 | New York City |
| | 16 | 3:32.38 | Ingebrigtsen #4 | | 15 February 2023 | Liévin |
| | 17 | 3:32.39 | Gebrselassie #2 | | 2 February 1997 | Stuttgart |
| 11 | 18 | 3:32.48 | Neil Gourley | Great Britain | 25 February 2023 | Birmingham |
| 12 | 19 | 3:32.59 | Isaac Nader | Portugal | 13 February 2025 | Liévin |
| 13 | 20 | 3:32.67+ | Cam Myers | Australia | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| | 21 | 3:32.77 | Tefera #2 | | 20 March 2022 | Belgrade |
| 14 | 22 | 3:32.86+ | Josh Kerr | Great Britain | 27 February 2022 | Boston |
| 15 | 23 | 3:32.97 | Selemon Barega | Ethiopia | 17 February 2021 | Toruń |
| | 24 | 3:33.02 | Ingebrigtsen #5 | | 20 March 2022 | Belgrade |
| 16 | 25 | 3:33.08 | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen | Kenya | 13 February 2005 | Karlsruhe |
| 17 | | 3:33.10 | Deresse Mekonnen | Ethiopia | 20 February 2010 | Birmingham |
| 18 | | 3:33.14+ | Robert Farken | Germany | 8 February 2025 | New York City |
| 19 | | 3:33.17 | Vénuste Niyongabo | Burundi | 22 February 1998 | Liévin |
| 20 | | 3:33.23 | Augustine Choge | Kenya | 19 February 2011 | Birmingham |
| 21 | | 3:33.28 | Adel Mechaal | Spain | 25 February 2023 | Birmingham |
| 22 | | 3:33.32 | Andrés Manuel Díaz | Spain | 24 February 1999 | Piraeus |
| 23 | | 3:33.34+ | Bernard Lagat | Kenya | 11 February 2005 | Fayetteville |
| 24 | | 3:33.36 | Abel Kipsang | Kenya | 20 March 2022 | Belgrade |
| 25 | | 3:33.40+ | Andrew Coscoran | Ireland | 8 February 2025 | New York City |

### Women (indoor)

* Updated March 2025.
| Ath.# | Perf.# | Time | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place |
| 1 | 1 | 3:53.09 | Gudaf Tsegay | Ethiopia | 9 February 2021 | Liévin |
| | 2 | 3:53.92 | Tsegay #2 | | 16 February 2025 | Toruń |
| | 3 | 3:54.77 | Tsegay #3 | | 22 February 2022 | Toruń |
| 2 | 4 | 3:55.17 | Genzebe Dibaba | Ethiopia | 1 February 2014 | Karlsruhe |
| 3 | 5 | 3:55.28 | Freweyni Hailu | Ethiopia | 6 February 2024 | Toruń |
| 4 | 6 | 3:55.47 | Diribe Welteji | Ethiopia | 6 February 2024 | Toruń |
| | 7 | 3:56.46+ | Dibaba #2 | | 17 February 2016 | Stockholm |
| 5 | 8 | 3:56.47 | Hirut Meshesha | Ethiopia | 6 February 2024 | Toruń |
| | 9 | 3:57.19 | Tsegay #4 | | 19 March 2022 | Belgrade |
| | 10 | 3:57.24 | Hailu #2 | | 10 February 2024 | Liévin |
| | 11 | 3:57.38 | Tsegay #5 | | 2 March 2022 | Madrid |
| | 12 | 3:57.45 | Dibaba #3 | | 3 February 2018 | Karlsruhe |
| | 13 | 3:57.47 | Tsegay #6 | | 15 February 2023 | Liévin |
| | 14 | 3:57.48 | Welteji #2 | | 10 February 2024 | Liévin |
| 6 | 15 | 3:57.91 | Abeba Aregawi | Sweden | 6 February 2014 | Stockholm |
| | 16 | 3:58.11 | Tsegay #7 | | 4 February 2024 | Boston |
| 7 | 17 | 3:58.28 | Yelena Soboleva | Russia | 18 February 2006 | Moscow |
| | 18 | 3:58.40 | Aregawi #2 | | 21 February 2013 | Stockholm |
| 8 | 19 | 3:58.43 | Birke Haylom | Ethiopia | 4 February 2024 | Boston |
| 9 | 20 | 3:58.79 | Tigist Girma | Ethiopia | 6 February 2024 | Toruń |
| | 21 | 3:58.80 | Dibaba #4 | | 10 February 2017 | Toruń |
| | 22 | 3:58.89 | Welteji #3 | | 13 February 2025 | Liévin |
| | 23 | 3:59.08 | Dibaba #5 | | 6 February 2019 | Sabadell |
| | 24 | 3:59.48+ | Tsegay #8 | | 8 February 2023 | Toruń |
| 10 | 25 | 3:59.58 | Laura Muir | Great Britain | 9 February 2021 | Liévin |
| 11 | | 3:59.60+ | Heather MacLean | United States | 2 March 2025 | Boston |
| 12 | | 3:59.75 | Gelete Burka | Ethiopia | 9 March 2008 | Valencia |
| 13 | | 3:59.79 | Maryam Yusuf Jamal | Bahrain | 9 March 2008 | Valencia |
| 14 | | 3:59.87+ | Konstanze Klosterhalfen | Germany | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 15 | | 3:59.98 | Regina Jacobs | United States | 1 February 2003 | Boston |
| 16 | | 4:00.20+ | Elle Purrier | United States | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 17 | | 4:00.27+ | Doina Melinte | Romania | 9 February 1990 | East Rutherford |
| 18 | | 4:00.28 | Dawit Seyaum | Ethiopia | 28 February 2016 | Boston |
| 19 | | 4:00.46 | Sifan Hassan | Netherlands | 19 February 2015 | Stockholm |
| 20 | | 4:00.52+ | Jemma Reekie | Great Britain | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 21 | | 4:00.63 | Georgia Bell | Great Britain | 15 February 2025 | Birmingham |
| 22 | | 4:00.72 | Natalya Gorelova | Russia | 27 February 2003 | Moscow |
| 23 | | 4:00.8h | Mary Decker | United States | 8 February 1980 | New York City |
| 24 | | 4:00.80+ | Gabriela DeBues-Stafford | Canada | 8 February 2020 | New York City |
| 25 | | 4:00.97 | Habitam Alemu | Ethiopia | 10 February 2024 | Liévin |

## U20 records and U18 world bests

* Updated 16 July 2023.
| Age group | Men | Men | Men | Women | Women | Women |
| Age group | 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 |

### Women

| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |

## World Championships medalists
### Men

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1983 Helsinki details | Steve Cram (GBR) | Steve Scott (USA) | Saïd Aouita (MAR) |
| 1987 Rome details | Abdi Bile (SOM) | José Luis González (ESP) | Jim Spivey (USA) |
| 1991 Tokyo details | Noureddine Morceli (ALG) | Wilfred Kirochi (KEN) | Hauke Fuhlbrügge (GER) |
| 1993 Stuttgart details | Noureddine Morceli (ALG) | Fermín Cacho (ESP) | Abdi Bile (SOM) |
| 1995 Gothenburg details | Noureddine Morceli (ALG) | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Vénuste Niyongabo (BDI) |
| 1997 Athens details | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Fermín Cacho (ESP) | Reyes Estévez (ESP) |
| 1999 Seville details | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Noah Ngeny (KEN) | Reyes Estévez (ESP) |
| 2001 Edmonton details | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Bernard Lagat (KEN) | Driss Maazouzi (FRA) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis details | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Mehdi Baala (FRA) | Ivan Heshko (UKR) |
| 2005 Helsinki details | Rashid Ramzi (BHR) | Adil Kaouch (MAR) | Rui Silva (POR) |
| 2007 Osaka details | Bernard Lagat (USA) | Rashid Ramzi (BHR) | Shedrack Kibet Korir (KEN) |
| 2009 Berlin details | Yusuf Saad Kamel (BHR) | Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) | Bernard Lagat (USA) |
| 2011 Daegu details | Asbel Kiprop (KEN) | Silas Kiplagat (KEN) | Matthew Centrowitz (USA) |
| 2013 Moscow details | Asbel Kiprop (KEN) | Matthew Centrowitz (USA) | Johan Cronje (RSA) |
| 2015 Beijing details | Asbel Kiprop (KEN) | Elijah Manangoi (KEN) | Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
| 2017 London details | Elijah Manangoi (KEN) | Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) | Filip Ingebrigtsen (NOR) |
| 2019 Doha details | Timothy Cheruiyot (KEN) | Taoufik Makhloufi (ALG) | Marcin Lewandowski (POL) |
| 2022 Eugene details | Jake Wightman (GBR) | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | Mohamed Katir (ESP) |
| 2023 Budapest details | 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 |
| 13 | Germany (GER) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Poland (POL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Portugal (POR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | South Africa (RSA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 13 | Ukraine (UKR) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

### Women

| Championships | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1983 Helsinki details | Mary Decker (USA) | Zamira Zaytseva (URS) | Yekaterina Podkopayeva (URS) |
| 1987 Rome details | Tetyana Samolenko (URS) | Hildegard Körner (GDR) | Doina Melinte (ROU) |
| 1991 Tokyo details | Hassiba Boulmerka (ALG) | Tetyana Dorovskikh (URS) | Lyudmila Rogachova (URS) |
| 1993 Stuttgart details | Liu Dong (CHN) | Sonia O'Sullivan (IRL) | Hassiba Boulmerka (ALG) |
| 1995 Gothenburg details | Hassiba Boulmerka (ALG) | Kelly Holmes (GBR) | Carla Sacramento (POR) |
| 1997 Athens details | Carla Sacramento (POR) | Regina Jacobs (USA) | Anita Weyermann (SUI) |
| 1999 Seville details | Svetlana Masterkova (RUS) | Regina Jacobs (USA) | Kutre Dulecha (ETH) |
| 2001 Edmonton details | Gabriela Szabo (ROU) | Violeta Szekely (ROU) | Natalya Gorelova (RUS) |
| 2003 Saint-Denis details | Tatyana Tomashova (RUS) | Süreyya Ayhan (TUR) | Hayley Tullett (GBR) |
| 2005 Helsinki details | Tatyana Tomashova (RUS) | Olga Yegorova (RUS) | Bouchra Ghezielle (FRA) |
| 2007 Osaka details | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) | Iryna Lishchynska (UKR) | Daniela Yordanova (BUL) |
| 2009 Berlin details | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) | Lisa Dobriskey (GBR) | Shannon Rowbury (USA) |
| 2011 Daegu details | Jennifer Simpson (USA) | Hannah England (GBR) | Natalia Rodríguez (ESP) |
| 2013 Moscow details | Abeba Aregawi (SWE) | Jennifer Simpson (USA) | Hellen Obiri (KEN) |
| 2015 Beijing details | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) | Sifan Hassan (NED) |
| 2017 London details | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) | Jennifer Simpson (USA) | Caster Semenya (RSA) |
| 2019 Doha details | Sifan Hassan (NED) | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) |
| 2022 Eugene details | Faith Kipyegon (KEN) | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) | Laura Muir (GBR) |
| 2023 Budapest details | 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 |
| 7 | 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 |
| 12 | Sweden (SWE) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 14 | Great Britain (GBR) | 0 | 3 | 2 | 5 |
| 15 | East Germany (GDR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Ireland (IRL) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Ukraine (UKR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 15 | Turkey (TUR) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 19 | Bulgaria (BUL) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | France (FRA) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | Spain (ESP) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 19 | Switzerland (SUI) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |

## World Indoor Championships medalists
### Men

| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
| 1985 Paris | Michael Hillardt (AUS) | José Luis González (ESP) | Joseph Chesire (KEN) |
| 1987 Indianapolis details | Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) | José Manuel Abascal (ESP) | Han Kulker (NED) |
| 1989 Budapest details | Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) | Hauke Fuhlbrügge (GDR) | Jeff Atkinson (USA) |
| 1991 Seville details | Noureddine Morceli (ALG) | Fermín Cacho (ESP) | Mário Silva (POR) |
| 1993 Toronto details | Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) | David Strang (GBR) | Branko Zorko (CRO) |
| 1995 Barcelona details | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Mateo Cañellas (ESP) | Erik Nedeau (USA) |
| 1997 Paris details | Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) | Rüdiger Stenzel (GER) | William Tanui (KEN) |
| 1999 Maebashi details | Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) | Laban Rotich (KEN) | Andrés Manuel Díaz (ESP) |
| 2001 Lisbon details | Rui Silva (POR) | Reyes Estévez (ESP) | Noah Ngeny (KEN) |
| 2003 Birmingham details | Driss Maazouzi (FRA) | Bernard Lagat (KEN) | Abdelkader Hachlaf (MAR) |
| 2004 Budapest details | Paul Korir (KEN) | Ivan Heshko (UKR) | Laban Rotich (KEN) |
| 2006 Moscow details | Ivan Heshko (UKR) | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) | Elkanah Angwenyi (KEN) |
| 2008 Valencia details | Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) | Daniel Kipchirchir Komen (KEN) | Juan Carlos Higuero (ESP) |
| 2010 Doha details | Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) | Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) | Haron Keitany (KEN) |
| 2012 Istanbul details | Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) | İlham Tanui Özbilen (TUR) | Mekonnen Gebremedhin (ETH) |
| 2014 Sopot details | Ayanleh Souleiman (DJI) | Aman Wote (ETH) | Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
| 2016 Portland details | Matthew Centrowitz Jr. (USA) | Jakub Holuša (CZE) | Nick Willis (NZL) |
| 2018 Birmingham details | Samuel Tefera (ETH) | Marcin Lewandowski (POL) | Abdalaati Iguider (MAR) |
| 2022 Belgrade details | Samuel Tefera (ETH) | Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) | Abel Kipsang (KEN) |
| 2024 Glasgow details | 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 details | Doina Melinte (ROU) | Tatyana Samolenko (URS) | Svetlana Kitova (URS) |
| 1989 Budapest details | Doina Melinte (ROU) | Svetlana Kitova (URS) | Yvonne Mai (GDR) |
| 1991 Seville details | Lyudmila Rogachova (URS) | Ivana Kubešová (TCH) | Tudorita Chidu (ROU) |
| 1993 Toronto details | Yekaterina Podkopayeva (RUS) | Violeta Beclea (ROU) | Sandra Gasser (SUI) |
| 1995 Barcelona details | Regina Jacobs (USA) | Carla Sacramento (POR) | Maite Zúñiga (ESP) |
| 1997 Paris details | Yekaterina Podkopayeva (RUS) | Patricia Djaté-Taillard (FRA) | Lidia Chojecka (POL) |
| 1999 Maebashi details | Gabriela Szabo (ROU) | Violeta Beclea-Szekely (ROU) | Lidia Chojecka (POL) |
| 2001 Lisbon details | Hasna Benhassi (MAR) | Violeta Beclea-Szekely (ROU) | Natalya Gorelova (RUS) |
| 2003 Birmingham details | Regina Jacobs (USA) | Kelly Holmes (GBR) | Yekaterina Rozenberg (RUS) |
| 2004 Budapest details | Kutre Dulecha (ETH) | Carmen Douma-Hussar (CAN) | Gulnara Galkina (RUS) |
| 2006 Moscow details | Yuliya Fomenko (RUS) | Yelena Soboleva (RUS) | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) |
| 2008 Valencia details | Gelete Burka (ETH) | Maryam Yusuf Jamal (BHR) | Daniela Yordanova (BUL) |
| 2010 Doha details | Kalkidan Gezahegne (ETH) | Natalia Rodríguez (ESP) | Gelete Burka (ETH) |
| 2012 Istanbul details | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) | Mariem Alaoui Selsouli (MAR) | Hind Dehiba (FRA) |
| 2014 Sopot details | Abeba Aregawi (SWE) | Axumawit Embaye (ETH) | Nicole Sifuentes (CAN) |
| 2016 Portland details | Sifan Hassan (NED) | Dawit Seyaum (ETH) | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) |
| 2018 Birmingham details | Genzebe Dibaba (ETH) | Laura Muir (GBR) | Sifan Hassan (NED) |
| 2022 Belgrade details | Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) | Axumawit Embaye (ETH) | Hirut Meshesha (ETH) |
| 2024 Glasgow details | Freweyni Hailu (ETH) | Nikki Hiltz (USA) | Emily Mackay (USA) |
* $^A$ Known as the World Indoor Games

## Season's bests

* "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 15:20.48 (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