1500 metres at the Olympics
Rank Nation Gold Silver Bronze Total
1 Soviet Union ( URS ) 3 1 2 6
2= Algeria ( ALG ) 2 0 0 2
2= Kenya ( KEN ) 2 0 0 2
4 Romania ( ROU ) 1 3 3 7
5 Russia ( RUS ) 1 1 0 2
6 Italy ( ITA ) 1 0 1 2
7 Great Britain ( GBR ) 1 0 0 1
8 East Germany ( GDR ) 0 3 1 4
9 Ukraine ( UKR ) 0 1 1 2
10= Unified Team ( EUN ) 0 1 0 1
10= Turkey ( TUR ) 0 1 0 1
10= Ethiopia ( ETH ) 0 1 0 1
13= Austria ( AUT ) 0 0 1 1
13= Bahrain ( BRN ) 0 0 1 1
13= China ( CHN ) 0 0 1 1
13= United States ( USA ) 0 0 1 1
Medal summary -- Women
The 1500 metres at the Summer Olympics has been contested since the first edition of the multi-sport event. The men's 1500 m has been present on the Olympic athletics programme since 1896. The women's event was not introduced until over seventy years later, but it has been a permanent fixture since it was first held in 1972. It is the most prestigious 1500 m race at elite level. The competition format comprises three rounds: a heats stage, semi-finals, then a final typically between twelve athletes. The 1500 meters is one of four individual events documented exclusively by Olympic documentary filmmaker Bud Greenspan. The Olympic records for the event are 3:32.07 minutes for men, set by Noah Ngeny in 2000, and 3:53.96 minutes for women, set by Paula Ivan in 1988. The 1500 metres world record has been broken several times at the Olympics: the men's record was beaten in 1900, 1936, and 1960, while the women's record was improved in 1972 (three times) and in 1980. Only two athletes have defended the Olympic 1500 m title: Tatyana Kazankina became the first person to win two gold medals in the event in 1980 (repeating her 1976 win) and, soon after, Sebastian Coe became the first man to do so in 1980 and 1984. No athlete of either sex has won more than two medals. Historically, athletes in this event have also had success in the 800 metres at the Olympics. Kelly Holmes was the last athlete to win both events at the same Olympics in 2004.