800 metres world record progression


The following table shows the world record progression in the men's and women's 800 metres, officially ratified by the IAAF.

Men

The first world record in the men's 800 metres was recognized by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1912.
As of June 21, 2011, 23 world records have been ratified by the IAAF in the event. "y" denotes time for 880 yards ratified as a record for the 800 m.
TimeAutoAthleteDateLocation
1:51.9+1912-07-08Stockholm, Sweden
1:51.6y1926-07-03London, United Kingdom
1:50.61928-07-14Paris, France
1:49.81.49.701932-08-02Los Angeles, United States
1:49.8y1934-06-16Princeton, United States
1:49.71936-08-20Stockholm, Sweden
1:49.6y1937-07-11New York, United States
1:48.4+1938-08-20London, United Kingdom
1:46.61939-07-15Milan, Italy
1:45.71955-08-03Oslo, Norway
1:44.3+1962-02-02Christchurch, New Zealand
1:44.31:44.401968-10-15Mexico City, Mexico
1:44.31972-07-01Eugene, United States
1:43.71973-06-27Milan, Italy
1:43.51:43.501976-07-25Montreal, Canada
1:43.41:43.441977-08-21Sofia, Bulgaria
1:42.41:42.331979-07-05Oslo, Norway
1:41.731981-06-10Florence, Italy
1:41.731997-07-07Stockholm, Sweden
1:41.241997-08-13Zürich, Switzerland
1:41.111997-08-24Cologne, Germany
1:41.092010-08-22Berlin, Germany
1:41.012010-08-29Rieti, Italy
1:40.912012-08-09London, United Kingdom

- indicates en route time from longer race.
The "Time" column indicates the ratified mark; the "Auto" column indicates a fully automatic time that was also recorded in the event when hand-timed marks were used for official records, or which was the basis for the official mark, rounded to the 10th of a second, depending on the rules then in place.
Auto times to the hundredth of a second were accepted by the IAAF for events up to and including 10,000 m from 1981. Hence, Sebastian Coe's record at 1:42.4 was rendered as 1:42.33 from that year.

Women

The first world record in the women's 800 metres was recognized by the Fédération Sportive Féminine Internationale in 1922. The FSFI was absorbed by the International Association of Athletics Federations in 1936.
As of June 21, 2009, the IAAF have ratified 29 world records in the event. "y" denotes time for 880 yards ratified as a record for the 800 m.
TimeAutoAthleteDateLocation
2:30.4+1922-08-20Paris, France
2:26.6y1922-08-30London, United Kingdom
2:23.81927-08-07Breslau, Germany
2:20.41928-06-16Stockholm, Sweden
2:19.61928-07-01Brieg, Germany
2:16.81928-08-02Amsterdam, Netherlands
2:15.91944-08-28Stockholm, Sweden
2:14.81945-08-19Hälsingborg, Sweden
2:13.81945-08-30Stockholm, Sweden
2:13.01950-07-17Moscow, Soviet Union
2:12.21951-07-26Moscow, Soviet Union
2:12.01951-08-26Minsk, Soviet Union
2:08.51952-06-15Kiev, Soviet Union
2:07.31953-08-27Moscow, Soviet Union
2:06.61954-09-16Kiev, Soviet Union
2:05.01955-09-24Zagreb, Yugoslavia
2:04.31960-07-03Moscow, Soviet Union
2:04.32:04.501960-09-07Rome, Italy
2:01.2+1962-03-03Perth, Australia
2:01.11964-10-20Tokyo, Japan
2:01.01967-06-28Helsinki, Finland
2:00.51968-07-20London, United Kingdom
1:58.51:58.451971-07-11Stuttgart, Germany
1:57.51:57.481973-08-24Athens, Greece
1:56.01976-06-12Kiev, Soviet Union
1:54.91:54.941976-07-26Montreal, Canada
1:54.91:54.851980-06-12Moscow, Soviet Union
1:53.51:53.431980-07-27Moscow, Soviet Union
1:53.281983-07-26Munich, West Germany

- indicates en route time from longer race.
The "Time" column indicates the ratified mark; the "Auto" column indicates a fully automatic time that was also recorded in the event when hand-timed marks were used for official records, or which was the basis for the official mark, rounded to the 10th of a second, depending on the rules then in place.
Auto times to the hundredth of a second were accepted by the IAAF for events up to and including 10,000 m from 1981. Hence, Nadezhda Olizarenko's record at 1:53.5 was rendered as 1:53.43 from that year.