Athletes in action in Kujawsko-Pomorska Arena Toruń
Last three sets of world indoor medallists
2022 - 1. Samuel Tefera (ETH) 3:32.77; 2. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:33.02; 3. Abel Kipsang (KEN) 3:33.36
2024 - 1. Geordie Beamish (NZL) 3:36.54; 2. Cole Hocker (USA) 3:36.69; 3. Hobbs Kessler (USA) 3:36.72
2025 - 1. Jakob Ingebrigtsen (NOR) 3:38.79; 2. Neil Gourley (GBR) 3:39.07; 3. Luke Houser (USA) 3:39.17
Fastest winning times
Samuel Tefera (ETH) – 3:32.77 (2022)
Haile Gebrselassie (ETH) – 3:33.77 (1999)
Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) – 3:35.31 (1997)
Slowest winning time
Samuel Tefera (ETH) – 3:58.19 (2018)
Biggest winning margin
1.93s - 1999: Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 3:35.31, Rüdiger Stenzel (GER) 3:37.24
Smallest winning margin
0.03s - 2003: Driss Maazouzi (FRA) 3:42.59, Bernard Lagat (KEN) 3:42.62
0.03s - 2004: Paul Korir (KEN) 3:52.31, Ivan Heshko (UKR) 3:52.34
Fastest times on Polish soil
3:32.56 1 Azeddine Habz (FRA) - Torun 22.02.2026
3:32.68 2 Samuel Chapple (NED) - Torun 22.02.2026
3:32.97 1 Selemon Barega (ETH) - Torun 17.02.2021
Repeat winners
3 - Marcus O'Sullivan (IRL) 1987, 1989, 1993
2 - Hicham El Guerrouj (MAR) 1995, 1997
2 - Deresse Mekonnen (ETH) 2008, 2010
2 - Samuel Tefera (ETH) 2018, 2022
By country
5 - Ethiopia
3 - Morocco
3 - Ireland
1 - New Zealand
1 - Djibouti
1 - Norway
1 - Australia
1 - Algeria
1 - Ukraine
1 - France
1 - United States
1 - Portugal
1 - Kenya
Fastest times in rounds
R1 Neil Gourley (GBR) 3:36.60 - 2025
Top eight entrants (based on final entries)
Isaac Nader (POR) 3:32.44
Samuel Chapple (NED) 3:32.68
Federico Riva (ITA) 3:33.04
Pieter Sisk (BEL) 3:33.32
Foster Malleck (CAN) 3:33.39
Samuel Pihlström (SWE) 3:33.47
Stefan Nillessen (NED) 3:33.64
Jochem Vermeulen (BEL) 3:33.71
Historic facts
- The men’s 1500m has historically been a very tactical affair at the World Indoor Championships. Only 9 of the 21 finals have been won with sub-3:40 times. Three of the 1500m finals have even been won with times outside 3:50!
- 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 Isaac Nader (POR) become the second Portuguese winner of this title after Rui Silva in 2001? He leads the entry-list with 3:32.44 and has finished 10-4-4 in the last three 1500m finals. Before the championships he said: "My preparation was good but slightly different than previous years – definitely not as intense. I feel that I am in the best shape ever for this time of year. I believe that I’ll be competitive out there."
- Can the United States win this title for just the second time in World Indoor Championships history after Matt Centrowitz won in 2016?
- On why Samuel Chapple has chosen the 1500m. "The 800m remains a lottery. A lottery full of top athletes who are barely separated from each other. In the World Championship heats, I probably ran my best race, but I didn't make it to the next round. You can still pretty much control the 1500m."
- Notable absentees include Cole Hocker (USA) and Azeddine Habz (FRA), who are first and third respectively on the 2026 world list. Both will be competing in the 3000m. Other absentees include Cameron Myers (AUS), Hobbs Kessler (USA), Yared Nuguse (USA) and Sam Ruthe (NZL) who are fifth, sixth, eighth and tenth on the 2026 world list
- Olympic finalist Stefan Nillessen (NED) is also a late withdrawal due to an ankle injury
- Spain is the only country to field two finalists in the men's 1500m final (Mariano Garcia, Carlos Saez)
