The 3000 metres or 3000-metre run is a track running event, also commonly known as the "3K" or "3K run", where 7.5 laps are run around an outdoor 400 m track, or 15 laps around a 200 m indoor track. It is debated whether the 3000 m should be classified as a middle-distance or long-distance event. In elite-level competition, 3000 m pace is more comparable to the pace found in the longer 5000 metres event, rather than

mile The mile, sometimes the international mile or statute mile to distinguish it from other miles, is a imperial unit, British imperial unit and United States customary unit of length; both are based on the older English unit of Unit of length, le ...

pace. The men's world record performance for 3000 m equates to a pace of 58.34 seconds per 400 m, which is closer to the 60.43 seconds for 5000 m than the 55.46 seconds for the

. However, the 3000 m does require some anaerobic conditioning, and an elite athlete needs to develop a high tolerance to

lactic acid Lactic acid is an organic acid. It has the molecular formula C3H6O3. It is white in the solid state and it is miscible with water. When in the dissolved state, it forms a colorless solution. Production includes both artificial synthesis as wel ...

, as does the mile runner. Thus, the 3000 m demands a balance of aerobic endurance needed for the 5000 m and lactic acid tolerance needed for the mile. In men's athletics, 3000 metres has been an Olympic discipline only as a team race at the

1912 This year is notable for Sinking of the Titanic, the sinking of the ''Titanic'', which occurred on April 15. In Albania, this leap year runs with only 353 days as the country achieved switching from the Julian to Gregorian Calendar by skippin ...

, 1920 and 1924 Summer Olympics. It has not been contested at any of the

IAAF World Athletics, formerly known as the International Amateur Athletic Federation and International Association of Athletics Federations and formerly abbreviated as the IAAF, is the international sports governing body, governing body for the sport ...

outdoor championships, but it is occasionally hosted at annual elite track and field meetings. It is often featured in indoor track and field programmes and is the longest-distance event present at the IAAF World Indoor Championships. In women's athletics, 3000 metres was a standard event in the Olympic Games ( 1984 to

1992 1992 was designated as International Space Year by the United Nations. Events January * January 1 – Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt replaces Javier Pérez de Cuéllar of Peru as United Nations Secretary-General. * January 6 ** The Republ ...

) and World Championships (1980 to 1993). The event was discontinued at World Championship and Olympic level after the

1993 World Championships in Athletics The 4th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held in the Neckarstadium, Stuttgart, Germany between 13 and 22 August with the participation of 187 nations. Having or ...

, with Qu Yunxia being the final

gold medal A gold medal is a medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture. Since the eighteenth century, gold medals have b ...

winner at the event. Starting with the

1995 World Championships in Athletics The 5th World Championships in Athletics, under the auspices of the International Association of Athletics Federations, were held at the Ullevi, Ullevi Stadium, Gothenburg, Sweden on 5–13 August 1995. This edition featured 1804 athletes from ...

and the 1996 Olympic Games, it was replaced by 5000 metres, with other IAAF-organized championships following suit. Skilled runners in this event reach speeds near vVO2max, for which the oxygen requirements of the body cannot continuously be satisfied, requiring some anaerobic effort.

Records

World records

* Updated 25 August 2024. Source: World Athletics

Short track world records

* Updated 8 February 2025. Source: World Athletics

Continental records

* Updated 25 May 2025. Source: World Athletics * ''Sh = Short Track''

All-time top 25

Outdoor men

*Correct as of August 2024.

Notes

Outdoor women

*Correct as of May 2025.

Indoor men

*Correct as of March 2025.

Indoor women

*Correct as of February 2025. *

Medalists

Women's Olympic medalists

Women's World Championships medalists

Men's World Indoor Championships medalists

Women's World Indoor Championships medalists

* Known as the ''World Indoor Games''

Season's bests

Men (outdoor)

Men (indoor)

Women (outdoor)

Women (indoor)

External links

IAAF list of 3000-metres records in XML

Notes and references

Statistics
{{DEFAULTSORT:3000 Metres Events in track and field Women's athletics Long-distance running disciplines Middle-distance running disciplines Discontinued Summer Olympic disciplines in athletics