Running News Daily

Swedish distance star Andreas Almgren delivered the race of his life at the Stockholm Diamond League, clocking a breathtaking 12:44.27 to win the men’s 5000m and send shockwaves through the global distance running world. His time not only shattered the European Record (ER) and the meet record, but it also catapulted him into the top 10 fastest performers in history, now ranking #8 all-time.

 

The home crowd in Stockholm witnessed a historic moment as Almgren, traditionally known for his prowess over 800m and 1500m, made a stunning statement in the long-distance arena. He became the first European ever to dip under 12:45 and now holds the fastest 5000m time ever run by a European athlete, surpassing Spain’s Mohamed Katir (12:45.01 from 2023).

 

? Top Results – Men’s 5000m (Stockholm Diamond League)

1. Andreas Almgren (Sweden) – 12:44.27 ?? ER MR

2. Kama Girma (Ethiopia) – 12:57.46 ??

3. Ky Robinson (Australia) – 12:58.38 ??

4. Mike Foppen (Netherlands) – 13:02.43 ??

5. Kenneth Kiprop (Uganda) – 13:02.69 ??

6. Denis Kipkoech (Kenya) – 13:07.02 ??

 

All-Time Men’s 5000m Rankings (As of June 2025)

 

Andreas Almgren now stands 8th on the all-time global list, behind legends like Cheptegei, Bekele, and Gebrselassie.

Rank	Athlete	Country	Time	Year
1	Joshua Cheptegei	UGA	12:35.36	2020
2	Kenenisa Bekele	ETH	12:37.35	2004
3	Haile Gebrselassie	ETH	12:39.36	1998
4	Daniel Komen	KEN	12:39.74	1997
5	Hagos Gebrhiwet	ETH	12:42.18	2023
6	Selemon Barega	ETH	12:43.02	2018
7	Mohamed Katir	ESP	12:45.01	2023
8	Andreas Almgren	SWE	12:44.27	2025 ✅
9	Yomif Kejelcha	ETH	12:46.79	2023
10	Berihu Aregawi	ETH	12:46.91	2021

 

Pace Breakdown – Almgren’s 12:44.27

• Per kilometer: 2:32.85/km

• Per mile: 4:05.57/mile

 

(12:44.27 = 764.27 seconds total

5000 meters = 5 kilometers or 3.10686 miles)

 

A New Era in Distance Running?

 

The Stockholm performance underscores a growing shift in elite distance running. For decades, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Uganda have been dominant in the 5000m and 10,000m, but Almgren’s performance—alongside strong finishes by Australia’s Ky Robinson and the Netherlands’ Mike Foppen—suggests a broader international resurgence.

 

As the World Championships in Tokyo loom, Almgren’s breakout raises the stakes. Can the Swede replicate this form against the likes of Cheptegei and Barega on the biggest stage of all?

 

One thing is clear: the race to the podium in global distance running is no longer limited to East Africa. Andreas Almgren has kicked open the door—and the world is watching.