Running News Daily

On July 14, 1998, Moroccan middle-distance legend Hicham El Guerrouj delivered one of the most iconic performances in track and field history, running a stunning 3:26.00 in the 1500m at the Golden Gala meet in Rome—a world record that still stands 27 years later.

But according to El Guerrouj himself, that time could have been even faster with today’s advancements.

“With today’s technology—carbon-plated shoes, wavelight pacing, and modern training science—I could have run 3:24,” he recently told reporters.

That bold claim holds weight when you look at the splits from that historic night. El Guerrouj covered the final 400m in 53.03 seconds and blazed through the last 300m in 39.66 seconds—numbers that rival top 800m finishes.

What makes this feat even more remarkable is that it was accomplished in an era before super spikes, pacer lights, and the finely tuned sports science that athletes now rely on. His performance was built on years of focused training, tactical brilliance, and unmatched closing speed.

His time of 3:26.00 remains not only the fastest ever run over 1500m, but also the longest-standing men’s world record in any Olympic track distance between 800m and 10,000m.

With today’s stars like Jakob Ingebrigtsen inching closer to the mark, the debate continues: how much faster would El Guerrouj have gone in 2025 conditions?

For now, the record stands—and so does the legend of Hicham El Guerrouj.