Athletes in action in Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń
Last three sets of world indoor medallists
2022 - 1. Selemon Barega (ETH) 7:41.38; 2. Lamecha Girma (ETH) 7:41.63; 3. Marc Scott (GBR) 7:42.02
2024 - 1. Josh Kerr (GBR) 7:42.98; 2. Yared Nuguse (USA) 7:43.59; 3. Selemon Barega (ETH) 7:43.64
2025 - 1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 7:46.09; 2. Berihu Aregawi (ETH) 7:46.25; 3. Ky Robinson (AUS) 7:47.09
Fastest winning times
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) – 7:34.71 (1997)
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) – 7:37.74 (2001)
Bernard Lagat (USA) – 7:37.97 (2010)<
Slowest winning time
Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) – 8:14.41 (2018)
Biggest winning margin
4.13s - 1997: Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 7:34.71, Paul Bitok (KEN) 7:38.84
Smallest winning margin
0.09s - 1993: Gennaro Di Napoli (ITA) 7:50.89, Anacleto Jimenez (ESP) 7:50.98
Fastest times on Polish soil
7:25.82 1 Selemon Barega (ETH) - Torun 06.02.2024
7:26.73 2 Getnet Wale (ETH) - Torun 06.02.2024
7:31.09 1 Lamecha Girma (ETH) - Torun 22.02.2022
Repeat winners
3 - Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) 1997, 1999, 2003
3 - Bernard Lagat (KEN/USA) 2004, 2010, 2012
2 - Frank O'Mara (IRL) 1987, 1991
2 - Gennaro Di Napoli (ITA) 1993, 1995
2 - Yomif Kejelcha (ETH) 2016, 2018
By country
8 - Ethiopia
2 - Morocco
2 - United States
2 - Ireland
2 - Italy
2 - Kenya
1 - Great Britain
1 - Norway
1 - Portugal
Top eight entrants (based on final entries)
Yann Schrub (FRA) 7:29.38
Andrew Coscoran (IRL) 7:30.97
Nicholas Griggs (IRL) 7:32.79
Addisu Yihune (ETH) 7:33.58
Yared Nuguse (USA) 7:33.78
Jacob Krop (KEN) 7:34.68
Getnet Wale (ETH) 7:35.44
Azzedine Habz (FRA) 7:35.79
Historic facts
- Ethiopia has won the men’s 3000m title on eight occasions. Among those to win include Haile Gebrselassie (1997, 1999, 2003) and Kenenisa Bekele (2006) who was succeeded by his younger brother Tariku (2008)
- Bernard Lagat (USA) became the oldest male world indoor champion in any event when he won this title in 2012 at 37y/90d. He became the oldest male medallist in any event when he won silver in 2014 at 39y/87d
- World indoor 3000m finals are seldom fast races. The last world indoor 3000m final to be won with a sub-7:40 winning time was in 2010 when Bernard Lagat (USA) won in 7:37.97. Only four of 21 finals have been won inside 7:40
- Only two athletes have won a men’s 1500/3000m double at the World Indoor Championships: Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) in 1999 and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) in 2025
Potential storylines and notes
- Can Ethiopia win their ninth 3000m title in the history of the World Indoor Championships?
- All three medallists from the 1500m final at the 2024 Olympic Games will be competing: 1. Cole Hocker (USA), 2. Josh Kerr (GBR), 3. Yared Nuguse (USA)
- Can the United States win their first men’s 3000m title at the World Indoor Championships since Bernard Lagat won back-to-back titles in 2010-12? Yared Nuguse won silver behind Josh Kerr in 2024 and Cole Hocker won 1500m silver also in 2024
- Can Josh Kerr reclaim the title he won on home soil in 2024? Ahead of the championships, he said: "I'm the most experienced going into the championships, so I'm excited to regain the title that I believe is mine." Kerr has only raced once since sustaining a grade two tear in his right calf in the 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
- Can Geordie Beamish (NZL) win his third title in as many events? He was the surprise winner of both the 1500m at the 2024 World Indoor Championships and the 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 World Championships
- Can Nick Griggs (IRL) or Andrew Coscoran (IRL) become Ireland’s first medallist in the event since Frank O’Mara won gold in 1991?
- World leader Cameron Myers (AUS) is absent but world #2 on the top list Yann Schrub (FRA) made a late decision to compete. He ran a 26:43 European 10km record in Castellon but did not compete at the French Indoor Championships. However, he did win the 3000m in Metz in 7:29.38 to break Jimmy Gressier’s national record
