Debut
5000 meter race for men event made its Olympic debut in the 1912 Stockholmes Summer Games. After that, the event has been contested regularly.
Rules and Regulations
- Federation approved automatic timing device must be used for time measurement during the races. No other device for measuring the time is allowed.
- When the number of athletes in the event is more than twelve, preliminary heats are organized. The sprinters qualifying in the heats enter the next round. Participation is mandatory for all athletes.
- International Association of Athletics Federations or IAAF has determined the length and width of the running track used for the track events during the Olympics.
- In accordance with the IAAF rules, the radius of the outside lane of the running track cannot exceed 50 meter in length.
- After two false starts, the athlete is disqualified from the competition.
- No athlete is allowed to participate if he leaves the track when the race is on.
- An athlete is not given any credit if he fails to reach the finishing line.
- The participants are not allowed to run inside the inner curve of the track, or even stepping on it.
- Obstruction of the race in any way will attract disqualification.
Finland has been the dominating country since the advent of 5000 meter sprint for men. However, after the 1960s, African countries became the dominant force.
Top Performers
Some of the top performers in the event are Gunnar Hockert, Gaston Reiff, Emil Zatopek, Murray Halberg, Bob Schul, Mohammed Gammoudi, Lasse Viren, Said Aouita, Miruts Yifter, Vladimir Kuts, John Ngugi, Dieter Baumann, Hannes Kolehmainen, Joseph Guillemot, Paavo Nurmi, Ville Ritola and Lauri Lehtinen.
