World Records Database

The greatest achievements in track and field history — from Usain Bolt's lightning speed to record-breaking performances across all events.

36 records

Sprint Events

Pure speed over short distances

Men

100m

Men's World Record

9.58WR
AthleteUsain Bolt
CountryJAM
Year2009
LocationBerlin

200m

Men's World Record

19.19WR
AthleteUsain Bolt
CountryJAM
Year2009
LocationBerlin

400m

Men's World Record

43.03WR
AthleteWayde van Niekerk
CountryRSA
Year2016
LocationRio de Janeiro

Women

100m

Women's World Record

10.49WR
AthleteFlorence Griffith-Joyner
CountryUSA
Year1988
LocationIndianapolis

200m

Women's World Record

21.34WR
AthleteFlorence Griffith-Joyner
CountryUSA
Year1988
LocationSeoul

400m

Women's World Record

47.60WR
AthleteMarita Koch
CountryGDR
Year1985
LocationCanberra

Middle Distance

Speed endurance events

Men

800m

Men's World Record

1:40.91WR
AthleteDavid Rudisha
CountryKEN
Year2012
LocationLondon

1500m

Men's World Record

3:26.00WR
AthleteHicham El Guerrouj
CountryMAR
Year1998
LocationRome

Women

800m

Women's World Record

1:53.28WR
AthleteJarmila Kratochvílová
CountryTCH
Year1983
LocationMunich

1500m

Women's World Record

3:50.07WR
AthleteGenzebe Dibaba
CountryETH
Year2015
LocationMonaco

Long Distance

Endurance running events

Men

5000m

Men's World Record

12:35.36WR
AthleteJoshua Cheptegei
CountryUGA
Year2020
LocationMonaco

10000m

Men's World Record

26:11.00WR
AthleteJoshua Cheptegei
CountryUGA
Year2020
LocationValencia

Marathon

Men's World Record

2:01:09WR
AthleteKelvin Kiptum
CountryKEN
Year2023
LocationChicago

Women

5000m

Women's World Record

14:00.21WR
AthleteLetesenbet Gidey
CountryETH
Year2021
LocationHengelo

10000m

Women's World Record

29:01.03WR
AthleteLetesenbet Gidey
CountryETH
Year2021
LocationHengelo

Marathon

Women's World Record

2:11:53WR
AthleteTigst Assefa
CountryETH
Year2023
LocationBerlin

Hurdles

Technical running events

Men

110m Hurdles

Men's World Record

12.80WR
AthleteAries Merritt
CountryUSA
Year2012
LocationBrussels

400m Hurdles

Men's World Record

45.94WR
AthleteKarsten Warholm
CountryNOR
Year2021
LocationTokyo

Women

100m Hurdles

Women's World Record

12.20WR
AthleteTobi Amusan
CountryNGR
Year2022
LocationEugene

400m Hurdles

Women's World Record

50.68WR
AthleteSydney McLaughlin-Levrone
CountryUSA
Year2022
LocationEugene

Jumping Events

Vertical and horizontal jumping

Men

High Jump

Men's World Record

2.45mWR
AthleteJavier Sotomayor
CountryCUB
Year1993
LocationSalamanca

Pole Vault

Men's World Record

History →
6.30mWR
AthleteArmand Duplantis
CountrySWE
Year2025
LocationTokyo

Long Jump

Men's World Record

8.95mWR
AthleteMike Powell
CountryUSA
Year1991
LocationTokyo

Triple Jump

Men's World Record

18.29mWR
AthleteJonathan Edwards
CountryGBR
Year1995
LocationGothenburg

Women

High Jump

Women's World Record

2.09mWR
AthleteStefka Kostadinova
CountryBUL
Year1987
LocationRome

Pole Vault

Women's World Record

5.06mWR
AthleteYelena Isinbayeva
CountryRUS
Year2009
LocationZurich

Long Jump

Women's World Record

7.52mWR
AthleteGalina Chistyakova
CountryURS
Year1988
LocationLeningrad

Triple Jump

Women's World Record

15.74mWR
AthleteYulimar Rojas
CountryVEN
Year2022
LocationEugene

Throwing Events

Power and technique events

Men

Shot Put

Men's World Record

23.37mWR
AthleteRandy Barnes
CountryUSA
Year1990
LocationLos Angeles

Discus

Men's World Record

74.08mWR
AthleteJürgen Schult
CountryGDR
Year1986
LocationNeubrandenburg

Hammer

Men's World Record

86.74mWR
AthleteYuriy Sedykh
CountryURS
Year1986
LocationStuttgart

Javelin

Men's World Record

98.48mWR
AthleteJan Železný
CountryCZE
Year1996
LocationJena

Women

Shot Put

Women's World Record

22.63mWR
AthleteNatalya Lisovskaya
CountryURS
Year1987
LocationMoscow

Discus

Women's World Record

76.80mWR
AthleteGabriele Reinsch
CountryGDR
Year1988
LocationNeubrandenburg

Hammer

Women's World Record

82.98mWR
AthleteAnita Włodarczyk
CountryPOL
Year2016
LocationWarsaw

Javelin

Women's World Record

72.28mWR
AthleteBarbora Špotáková
CountryCZE
Year2008
LocationStuttgart

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