On This Day

Hannes Kolehmainen runs world record 5000 m (14:36.6)

The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field.

The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over 12+1⁄2 laps of a standard 400 m track, or 25 laps on an indoor 200 m track. The same distance in road running is called a 5K run; referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres serves to disambiguate the two events.

The 5000 m has been present on the Olympic programme since 1912 for men and since 1996 for women. Prior to 1996, women had competed in an Olympic 3000 metres race since 1984. The 5000 m has been held at each of the World Championships in Athletics in men's competition and since 1995 in women's.

Historical Significance

The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field.

Events Before

  1. Hank Greenberg is born

    Hank Greenberg, American athlete, known for american baseball player, was born on 1911-01-01.

  2. Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

    Belgian mining law introduces a 9.5-hour workday

  3. British PM Neville Chamberlain (41) weds Anne de Vere Cole

    British PM Neville Chamberlain (41) weds Anne de Vere Cole

  4. American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

    American actress Hattie McDaniel (16) weds pianist Howard Hickman (30) in Denver, Colorado

  5. Actress Mae West (17) weds fellow vaudevillian Frank Wallace (21) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

    Actress Mae West (17) weds fellow vaudevillian Frank Wallace (21) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Events After

  1. The US Post Office begins parcel post delivery

    The Bronx General Post Office (also known as the Bronx Central Post Office or Bronx Central Annex) is a historic post office building at 558 Grand Concourse in the South Bronx in New York City, New…

  2. British House of Commons accepts Home Rule for Ireland (but the Great War gets in the way of it happening)

    British House of Commons accepts Home Rule for Ireland (but the Great War gets in the way of it happening)

  3. China's National Assembly opens in Peking, the first free democratic parliament in Chinese history

    The National Assembly was the legislative branch of the Beiyang government during the Republican era of Chinese history.

  4. US Admiral Chester Nimitz (28) weds Catherine Freeman (21) in Wollaston, Massachusetts

    US Admiral Chester Nimitz (28) weds Catherine Freeman (21) in Wollaston, Massachusetts

  5. US Actors' Equity Association forms (NYC)

    The 1919 Actors' Equity Association strike officially spanned from August 7, 1919, to September 6, 1919.

More from the 1910s

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on July 10, 1912?
The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field. It is one of the track events in the Olympic Games and the World Championships in Athletics, run over 12+1⁄2 laps of a standard 400 m track, or 25 laps on an indoor 200 m track. The same distance in road running is called a 5K run; referring to the distance in metres rather than kilometres serves to disambiguate the two events.
Why is Hannes Kolehmainen runs world record 5000 m (14:36.6) significant?
The 5000 metres or 5000-metre run is a common long-distance running event in track and field.

Explore More