5000 m walk (indoor), men

What to remember

In race walking the rule is precise: athletes must keep contact with the ground, and the supporting leg must stay straight until the raised leg passes it. On February 28, 2026, at the Italian indoor championships in Ancona, Francesco Fortunato covered 5000 m that way in 17 min 54.48 s.

That is an average of 16.752 km/h. The Italian, born in 1994, is a race walker.

The 5000 m walk was part of the men's programme at the IAAF World Indoor Championships until 1993. It is also held at the World Masters Athletics Championships and is a world record event. An imperial counterpart, the 5 miles race walk, has been contested at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.