Middle Distance Events at the Olympics
The 800m and 1500m for both men and women are the two middle-distance races that are contested as part of the track and field events during the Olympics. See about the Olympic long-distance races.
distance race at the London Olympics 800m event
The men's 800m event has been a part of the games since the first Olympics at 1896 and the women's event was added in 1928. The men's event was dominated by the United States and Great Britain in the past, but neither country has won the gold medal since 1976.
Kenya has dominated the event of late and has won the gold medal in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. David Rudisha holds the Olympic men's record for the event at 1:40.91, which is also the current world record, set during the 2012 London Olympics. The women's Olympic record of 1:53.43 was set by Nadezhda Olizarenko of the ex-Soviet Union 1980 Moscow Games.
1500m event
The men's 1500m event has been a part of the games since the first Olympics at 1896 and the women's event was added in 1972. Sebastian Coe is the only man who has won the gold medal twice for this event. Hicham El Guerrouj is another notable athlete for the event who won a gold and a silver medal in 2004 and 2000.
Noah Ngeny of Kenya is the current men's Olympic record holder at 3:32.07 set during the 2000 Sydney Olympics. 3:53.96 is the current women's Olympic record set by Paula Ivan of Romania in 1988 Seoul Games.
Trivia
- In 1920, Philip Noel-Baker of Great Britain won the silver in the 1500m. He later became the only Olympian ever to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
- In 2016, 41-year-old runner Bernard Lagat reached his 5th Olympics. From 2000 and 2004 he represented his birth country of Kenya, and from 20108 to 2016 the USA.
Related Pages
- long distance events at the Olympics
- About Track and Field at the Olympics
- The Greatest T&F Athletes at the Olympics.
- List of Olympic Sports
Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.
Upcoming Events