What is the standard distance of a men's Olympic steeplechase?

The standard distance of a men’s Olympic steeplechase is 3,000 metres. It is the established Olympic version of the event, although early Olympic steeplechases were contested over several unusual distances.

The race combines endurance running with fixed obstacles. A standard 3,000-metre course includes 28 ordinary barriers and seven water jumps. Because the track layout varies slightly depending on whether the water jump is inside or outside the oval, athletes do not simply run a precise set of ordinary 400-metre laps.

The steeplechase first appeared at the Olympics in 1900, when races covered 2,500 and 4,000 metres. The distance was standardized at 3,000 metres by the 1920 Games. The women’s Olympic steeplechase was added in 2008 and uses the same distance, but lower barriers. The 1932 men’s Olympic final is a famous exception: a lap-counting error made it 3,460 metres.