The 5000 metres race walk is a

racewalking Race walking, or racewalking, is a long-distance discipline within the sport of athletics. Although a foot race, it is different from running in that one foot must appear to be in contact with the ground at all times. Race judges carefully asses ...

event. The event is competed as a track race and was part of the athletics programme for men at the

IAAF World Indoor Championships in Athletics The World Athletics Indoor Championships are a biennial indoor track and field competition served as the global championship for that version of the sport. Organised by the World Athletics, the competition was inaugurated as the ''World Indoor G ...

until 1993. It is also an event in the

World Masters Athletics Championships The World Masters Athletics Championships are the biennial championships for masters athletics events held under the auspices of World Masters Athletics, formerly called the World Association of Veteran Athletes, for athletes 35 years of age or ...

, and is a World record event. Athletes must always keep in contact with the ground and the supporting leg must remain straight until the raised leg passes it. 5000 meters is 3.11 miles. There is also an imperial analogue of the event, the 5 miles race walk, which has been held at the

USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships The USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships is an annual track and field competition organized by USA Track & Field, which serves as the American national championships for the sport. Since the year 1992, in the years which feature a Summer Oly ...

World records

IAAF just ratified world records for men's indoor marks. On February 22, 2025, Francesco Fortunato of Italy set the 5,000 m race walk world indoor record in

Ancona Ancona (, also ; ) is a city and a seaport in the Marche region of central Italy, with a population of around 101,997 . Ancona is the capital of the province of Ancona, homonymous province and of the region. The city is located northeast of Ro ...

in a time of 17:55.65. The all-time men's best outdoor mark is held by

Hatem Ghoula Hatem Ghoula (; born 7 June 1973) is a Tunisian race walker. He won four consecutive African Championships in the 20 kilometres walk from 1996 to 2002. His foremost medal was a 20 km walk bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics ...

of Tunisia, at 18:05.49. The all-time women's best 5,000 m race-walk mark was set outdoor and is held by

Eleonora Giorgi Eleonora Giorgi (21 October 1953 – 3 March 2025) was an Italian actress, screenwriter, and film director. She gained prominence in the 1970s and 1980s, starring in a variety of Italian films, particularly in the comedy and drama genres. Gior ...

of Italy, at 20:01.80.

All-time top 25 (outdoor)

*+ = en route to 10,000m performance *h = hand timing

Men

*Correct as of May 2024.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 18:39.28: * Declan Tingay also walked 18:24.50 (2022).

Women

*Correct as of April 2022.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 20:38.16: *

Gillian O'Sullivan Gillian O'Sullivan (born 21 August 1976) is an Irish race walker. She set the unofficial world record in the 5000m walk in Belfast, United Kingdom since 2002 however, the IAAF have refused to verify it. She won a silver medal at the world ch ...

also walked 20:13.13 (2003). *

Kerry Saxby-Junna Kerry-Anne Saxby-Junna, born Kerry Saxby AM (born 2 June 1961) is a retired Australian race walker. She was born in Young, New South Wales and grew up in Ballina, New South Wales. She represented Australia 27 times in international competiti ...

also walked 20:13.29 (1996), 20:17.19 (1990), 20:22.75 (1996). * Sabine Krantz also walked 20:27.47 (2004). * María Pérez also walked 20:38.16 (2018).

All-time top 25 (indoor)

*+ = en route to 10,000m performance *h = hand timing

Men

*Correct as of February 2025.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 18:32.32: *

Mikhail Shchennikov Mikhail Anatolyevich Shchennikov (; born 24 December 1967, in Sverdlovsk) is a Russian race walker. He was born in Sverdlovsk. His son Georgi Shchennikov is a professional footballer for PFC CSKA Moscow Professional Football Club CSKA (, ...

also walked 18:15.91 (1989), 18:23.55 (1991). * Grigoriy Kornev also walked 18:23.10 (1992). * Ivano Brugnetti also walked 18:23.47 (2009). *

Giovanni De Benedictis Giovanni De Benedictis (born 8 January 1968, in Pescara) is a retired Italian race walker, that won 9 medals at individual level, 7 of these at senior level, at the International athletics competitions. He participated at five editions of the Sum ...

also walked 18:23.60 (1991). *

Tom Bosworth Thomas Stewart Bosworth (born 17 January 1990) is a British two-time Olympic race walker who holds three World bests, including the World Best for the 1Mile race walk, 5:31.08. He also holds six British records, won 13 British Championshi ...

also walked 18:28.70 (2018).

Women

*Correct as of January 2023.

Notes

Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 21:19.67:

International medallists

African Championships

References

{{Athletics events Race walking distances