World vs Japan

How the gap between the Japanese record and the world record has changed over time.

Men · Current Gap
+2.99
World1:40.91David Rudisha
Japan1:43.90Ko Ochiai
Women · Current Gap
+6.24
World1:53.28Jarmila Kratochvilova
Japan1:59.52Rin Kubo

Record progressions

World and Japan record progressions.

Men

Current
WR1:40.91David Rudisha· 2012
JPN1:43.90Ko Ochiai· 2026

Women

Current
WR1:53.28Jarmila Kratochvilova· 1983
JPN1:59.52Rin Kubo· 2025

The gap over time

How the gap between the world and Japan records has moved.

Men

+2.99Current
WR1:40.91David Rudisha· 2012
JPN1:43.90Ko Ochiai· 2026

Women

+6.24Current
WR1:53.28Jarmila Kratochvilova· 1983
JPN1:59.52Rin Kubo· 2025

What this chart shows

The closer the line gets to zero, the closer Japan is to the world record; when it rises, the world record is pulling away. The gap is plotted at every record change — world or national — so the line always reflects the gap at that moment.