Unbreakable: 5 of the Longest-Standing World Records in Track History

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Cliffs-CornerEditor

6 min read 18-12-2024

Setting a world record is an extraordinary achievement, one that redefines the boundaries of human potential. Some records usher in a new era, like Roger Bannister's legendary sub-four-minute mile. For years, this barrier seemed unbreakable. However, after Bannister broke the long elusive barrier in 1954 with a time of 3:59.4, it took just 46 days for Australian runner John Landy to set a new world record of 3:58.0. Then, just a year later, three runners broke the four-minute barrier in a single race. As of 2022, a staggering 1,755 runners have achieved a sub-four-minute mile.

In contrast, other records stand as unshakable peaks in the landscape of athletic achievement, enduring for decades and defining the careers of those who set them - an unfading testament to the athlete's unparalleled brilliance

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone breaking the 400m world record in 2022
Image by Erik van Leeuwen, used under CC BY-SA 4.0

Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone's dominance in the 400m hurdles makes her a strong contender for this list - if she ever stops breaking her own records

In the world of athletics, long-standing track records have taken on an almost mythical status. Some are celebrated and revered, while others seem so untouchable that their legitimacy sometimes comes into question. But that’s a debate for another time. Today, we’re counting down five of the longest-standing world records in track. Let’s dive in!

5. 🇲🇦 Hicham El Guerrouj: Men's Mile

World Record ⏱️ - 3:43.13

Date Set: July 7, 1999

  • Event: Golden Gala, Rome 🇮🇹
  • Nationality: Moroccan
  • Age When Record Was Set: 24

Widely regarded as the greatest middle-distance runner in history, Hicham El Guerrouj set a mile world record that was nothing short of extraordinary. His achievement set such a high standard that, in the 25 years since, only four athletes have come within two seconds of his time. This remarkable run also marked the beginning of a legendary week for the Moroccan star, as just seven days later, he shattered the 1500m world record.


4. 🇺🇸 Florence Griffith-Joyner: Women's 200m

World Record ⏱️ - 21.34

Date Set: September 29, 1988

  • Event: Seoul Olympics 🇰🇷
  • Nationality: American
  • Age When Record Was Set: 28

Just hours after setting the 200m world record in the qualifying heats, Florence Griffith-Joyner saved the greatest 200m performance in women's athletics history for the grandest stage—the 1988 Olympic final. There, she shaved an incredible 0.22 seconds off her previous time. In the modern era, sprinters like Shericka Jackson and Elaine Thompson-Herah have been closing in on this mark, but for now, Flo Jo’s record still stands strong.


3. 🇺🇸 Florence Griffith-Joyner: Women's 100m

World Record ⏱️ - 10.49

Date Set: July 16, 1988

  • Event: U.S. Olympic Trials, Indianapolis 🇺🇸
  • Nationality: American
  • Age When Record Was Set: 28

Florence Griffith-Joyner's 10.49 world record in the quarter-finals of the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials took the world by surprise, marking a significant leap from her previous personal best of 10.89 seconds, achieved just three weeks earlier. Her astonishing performance not only shattered Evelyn Ashford's world record of 10.76 seconds but also represented a considerable leap in the world record itself, lowering it by 0.27 seconds.

However, this record is not without controversy. Suspicions arose regarding a technical malfunction with the wind gauge, which recorded a wind speed of 0.0 m/s—an anomaly, considering the strong winds observed in races before and after. Another gauge nearby even registered a wind reading of 4.3 m/s at the time of her sprint, well above the legal limit of 2.0 m/s. Despite these inconsistencies, the IAAF ratified Griffith-Joyner's record, and it remains unbroken to this day.


2. 🇩🇪 Marita Koch: Women's 400m

World Record ⏱️ - 47.60

Date Set: October 6, 1985

  • Event: World Cup, Canberra 🇦🇺
  • Nationality: German
  • Representing: East Germany (GDR)
  • Age When Record Was Set: 28

Marita Koch set an incredible 16 outdoor and 14 indoor world records during her career. However, the one that truly stands apart is her 400m world record of 47.60, set at the 1985 World Cup in Canberra. Decades later, it remains as untouchable as ever.

In that record-setting race, starting in lane two, Koch exploded out of the blocks, quickly eating up the stagger on lanes three and four. She reached the halfway mark in a blazing 22.4 seconds and held on with remarkable strength, capping off a truly virtuoso performance.

Yet, even as her record endures unchallenged, it remains the subject of intense debate. Koch competed for the former German Democratic Republic (GDR) during a period of state-sponsored doping. Though she never failed a test, overwhelming evidence of systematic doping within the GDR has cast a long shadow over her achievement.


1. 🇨🇿 Jarmila Kratochvílová: Women's 800m

World Record ⏱️ - 1:53.28

Date Set: July 26, 1983

  • Event: Olympic Stadium, Munich 🇩🇪
  • Nationality: Czechoslovakian (Czech)
  • Age When Record Was Set: 32

The longest-standing record on this list, and arguably the most incredible performance of them all, belongs to Jarmila Kratochvílová, who stormed to her world record over four decades ago. After a blistering opening 400m of 56.82, Kratochvílová somehow managed to accelerate even more, with each of her final four 100m splits becoming faster than the last. Her closing 100m split — clocked at 13.7 seconds — capped off an absolute masterclass in negative splitting. In all the years since this remarkable achievement, only two other women have come within a second of her time.

Again, this record, like others on this list, has faced considerable scrutiny. In addition to the general suspicions that many Eastern European athletes inherited from a time when state-sponsored doping was rife, skeptical glances have consistently been directed toward Kratochvílová's muscular physique. For what it's worth, Kratochvílová, who attributes her physique to the hard work she put in on her family farm, has always denied any wrongdoing and never failed a drugs test during her career.

FINAL WORD

While cynics may argue that some records on this list could be linked to questionable practices, it’s important to recognize that, as time passes, skepticism tends to set in. The longer these records stand, the more people begin to question their legitimacy, especially as countless attempts to break them have fallen short over the years. With each failed challenge, doubt intensifies, and the sense of disbelief grows, adding more fuel to the ongoing debate.

No matter how out of reach these records feel, no record is unbreakable. Eventually, every one of these times will fall, and new athletes will rise to claim their place in history. For now, though, we should take this moment to celebrate these feats for what they represent: a high-water mark of human potential on the track, despite the doubts they may inspire.