60 metres
60 metres, or 60-meter dash, is a sprint event in track and field. It is a championship event for indoor championships, normally dominated by the best outdoor 100 metres runners. At outdoor venues it is a rare distance, at least for senior athletes. The format of the event is similar to other sprint distances. The sprinters follow three initial instructions: 'ready', instructing them to take up position in the starting blocks; 'set', instructing them to adopt a more efficient starting posture, which also isometrically preloads their muscles. This will enable them to start faster. The final instruction is the firing of the starter's pistol. Upon hearing this the sprinters stride forwards from the blocks.
Athletics 60 metres | |
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World records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |
World Indoor Championship records | |
Men | ![]() |
Women | ![]() |

The 60 metres was an Olympic event in the 1900 and 1904 Summer Games but was removed from the schedule thereafter. American Christian Coleman currently holds the men's world record in the 60 metres with a time of 6.34 seconds,[1] while Russian Irina Privalova holds the women's world record at 6.92.
In the past, it was common for athletes to compete in the 60 yards (54.86 m) race. This is not part of the lineage of the 60 metres, but is the predecessor of the 55 metres race. 60 metres is 65.6168 yards.
Area records
Area | Men | Women | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | |
Africa | 6.45 A | Leonard Myles-Mills | ![]() | 6.97 | Murielle Ahouré | ![]() |
Asia | 6.42 | Su Bingtian | ![]() | 7.09 | Susanthika Jayasinghe | ![]() |
Europe | 6.41 | Marcell Jacobs | ![]() | 6.92 | Irina Privalova | ![]() |
North, Central America and Caribbean | 6.34 A | Christian Coleman | ![]() | 6.95 | Gail Devers Marion Jones | ![]() |
Oceania | 6.52 | Matthew Shirvington | ![]() | 7.13 | Zoe Hobbs | ![]() |
South America | 6.52 | José Carlos Moreira | ![]() | 7.14 | Vitoria Cristina Rosa | ![]() |
All-time top 25
Indoor results only
Men
Updated March 2022.[4]
Note: The following athletes have had their performances annulled because of doping offense:
Time (s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.41 | Ben Johnson | ![]() | 7 March 1987 | Indianapolis | [16] |
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 6.47 seconds:
- Christian Coleman also ran 6.37 (2018, 2020), 6.41 (2022), 6.42 A (2018), 6.45 (2017, 2018, 2022), 6.46 (2018), 6.47 (2018).
- Maurice Greene also ran 6.40 (1999), 6.41 (1998), 6.42 (1999), 6.43 (1998), 6.45 (1999, 2000), 6.46 (1998, 1999), 6.47 (1998, 2000).
- Su Bingtian also ran 6.43 (2018), 6.47 (2018, 2019).
- Ronnie Baker also ran 6.44 (2018, 2020), 6.45 A (2017, 2018), 6.46 (2017), 6.47 (2016, 2018).
- Tim Harden also ran 6.44 (1999, 2001), 6.47 (1999).
- Andre Cason also ran 6.45 (1992), 6.46 (1992).
- Marcell Jacobs also ran 6.45 (2022), 6.47 (2021).
- Bruny Surin also ran 6.46 (1995).
- Jon Drummond also ran 6.46 (1998, 1999, 2000), 6.47 (1998).
- Jason Gardener also ran 6.46 (2004).
- Terrence Trammell also ran 6.46 (2003).
- Justin Gatlin also ran 6.46 (2003, 2012), 6.47 (2012).
- Marcus Brunson also ran 6.46 (2007).
- Dwain Chambers also ran 6.46 (2009).
- Marvin Bracy also ran 6.46 (2022).
Outdoor best performances
+ = en route to 100m mark
Rank | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6.29+ (calculated) | +0.9 | Su Bingtian | ![]() |
1 August 2021 | Tokyo | [17] |
2 | 6.31+ (calculated) | +0.9 | Usain Bolt | ![]() |
16 August 2009 | Berlin | [18] |
3 | 6.32+ (calculated) | +0.6 | Christian Coleman | ![]() |
28 September 2019 | Doha | [19] |
Note: The following athletes have had their associated 100 m performances annulled because of doping offense:
Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6.33+ (calculated) | +1.1 | Ben Johnson | ![]() |
24 September 1988 | Seoul | [20] |
Women
Updated March 2022.[21]
Notes
Below is a list of other times equal or superior to 7.00 seconds:
- Irina Privalova also ran 6.93 (1994), 6.94 (1995), 6.95 (1994, 1995), 6.96 (1993), 6.97 (1992, 1993, 1994, 1995), 6.98 (1993), 6.99 (1993), 7.00 (1995).
- Merlene Ottey also ran 6.97 (1995), 6.99 (1994).
- Gail Devers also ran 6.98 (1999), 6.99 (1993), 7.00 (1994, 1997, 1998, 1999).
- Ekaterini Thanou also ran 6.99 (1999).
- Murielle Ahouré also ran 6.99 (2013), 7.00 (2013).
- Ewa Swoboda also ran 7.00 (2022).
Outdoor best performances
+ = en route to 100m mark
Rank | Time (s) | Wind (m/s) | Athlete | Nation | Date | Place | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 6.81+ (calculated) | +0.1 | Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce | ![]() |
29 September 2019 | Doha | [32] |
2 | 6.85+ (calculated) | −0.1 | Marion Jones | ![]() |
22 August 1999 | Seville | |
3 | 6.87+ (calculated) | 0.0 | Florence Griffith-Joyner | ![]() |
16 July 1988 | Indianapolis | [33] |
+0.9 | Elaine Thompson-Herah | ![]() |
21 August 2021 | Eugene | [34] | ||
4 | 6.91+ (calculated) | +0.1 | Dina Asher-Smith | ![]() |
29 September 2019 | Doha | [32] |
Olympic medalists
Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
---|---|---|---|
1900 Paris |
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1904 St. Louis |
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World Indoor Championships medalists
Men
a The event was known as the World Indoor Games in 1985.
b Ben Johnson of Canada originally won the gold medal, but he was disqualified in 1989 after admitting to steroid use between 1981 and 1988.
Medal table
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 9 | 8 | 3 | 20 |
2 | ![]() | 3 | 3 | 4 | 10 |
3 | ![]() | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
4 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
![]() | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | |
6 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
7 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
8 | ![]() | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
9 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
10 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
14 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
15 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Totals (17 nations) | 19 | 20 | 18 | 57 |
Women
a The event was known as the World Indoor Games in 1985.
b Angella Issajenko of Canada originally won the silver medal, but she was disqualified in 1989 after admitting to steroid use between 1982 and 1988.
c Zhanna Block originally won the gold medal, but she was disqualified after her results from November 2002 onwards were deleted in 2011 for long-term drug use.
Medal table (at the 19 March 2022)
Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | ![]() | 7 | 7 | 5 | 19 |
2 | ![]() | 4 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
3 | ![]() | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
4 | ![]() | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 |
5 | ![]() | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
6 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
7 | ![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
10 | ![]() | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
11 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
12 | ![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
15 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | |
17 | ![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
![]() | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
Totals (22 nations) | 19 | 19 | 19 | 57 |
Season's bests
See also
Notes and references
- Jon Hendershott (18 February 2018). "Coleman breaks world indoor 60m record at US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque". IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- "Men's indoor 60 metres | Records". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- "Women's indoor 60 metres | Records". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 4 January 2019.
- "All time Top Lists Senior Indoor 60 Metres Men". World Athletics. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
- Jon Hendershott (18 February 2018). "Coleman breaks world indoor 60m record at US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque". IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- Jon Hendershott (18 February 2018). "Coleman breaks world indoor 60m record at US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque". IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- "60m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- "Men's 60m Results" (PDF). IAAF. 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- "60m Round 1 Results" (PDF). IAAF. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 18 March 2016.
- "60m Semifinal Results" (PDF). IAAF. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- "60m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 19 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
- Jon Mulkeen (16 January 2022). "Jones, Harrison and Usoro get their 2022 campaigns off to a strong start". Retrieved 17 January 2022.
- "60 Metres Results". IAAF. 23 February 2014. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
- "60 Metres Results". IAAF. 22 February 2015. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
- "60m Results" (PDF). IAAF. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- Janofsky, Michael (6 September 1989). "Rule That Will Strip Johnson of His World Records Is Approved". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
- Pierre-Jean Vazel (2021-11-02). "Athletics - Final Results". Analyzing the Olympic 100-meter sprints.
- "Biomechanical Analysis 100 Metres" (PDF). IAAF. 16 August 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- "Biomechanical Analysis 100 Metres". La Libre. 29 September 2019. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- "Maurice Greene equals 60m indoors world record mark". World Athletics. 1 February 1998. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- "Toplists - All time Top lists - Senior Indoor 60 Metres Women". World Athletics. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- "60m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- "Women's 60m Results" (PDF). IAAF. 2 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- "60m Results Summary" (PDF). IAAF. 9 March 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
- "60m Results" (PDF). British Athletics. 18 February 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
- Gary Smith (5 March 2022). "Ewa Swoboda flashes to 6.99 at 2022 Polish Indoor Championships". world-track.org. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
- "60m Final Results" (PDF). World Athletics. 18 March 2022. Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- "Dafne Schippers: Profile". IAAF.org. Retrieved 11 August 2017.
- "60m Dash Results". flashresults.com. 12 March 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- Jon Hendershott (18 February 2018). "Coleman breaks world indoor 60m record at US Indoor Championships in Albuquerque". IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2018.
- Ramsak, Bob (20 February 2019). "Ta Lou dashes 7.02, J. Ingebrigtsen defeats Tefera in Dusseldorf". iaaf.org. IAAF. Retrieved 20 February 2019.
- Lindstrom, Sieg (October 2019). "World Champs Women's 100 — Let's Hear It For Motherhood". Track & Field News. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
- Brüggemann, Gert-Peter; Glad, Bill; International Amateur Athletic Federation; International Athletic Foundation (1990), Scientific research project at the games of the XXIVth Olympiad - Seoul 1988. Final report, Biomechanical analyses of the jumping events, time analyses of the sprint and hurdle events, IAAF, retrieved 16 May 2020
- Evelyn Watta (8 September 2021). "Elusive world record now within reach for Elaine Thompson-Herah". Olympics.com. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
External links
- All-time men's best 60 metres from alltime-athletics.com
- All-time women's best 60 metres from alltime-athletics.com