Main > Women, 10000 m  All Time Best
The method I use to identify the 10 all time best athletes is a very simple.
From the Top 10 lists in the yearly statistics (Men 1891-2004, Women 1921-2004), the athlete
in the first position receives 10 points, the athlete in the second position receives 9 points
and so on down to the tenth position.
Athlete with the most points is the best.
The same method is applied to Olympic Games, World Championships, and European Championships.
The athlete in the first place receives 10 points, the athlete in the second place
receives 9 points and so on down to the tenth place.
Top 10 Yearly Statistics
Points Years
Paula Radcliffe  GBR  57  1998-2005
Ingrid Kristiansen  NOR  53  1985-1991
Tirunesh Dibaba  ETH  52  2005-2017
Kathrin Wessel  GER  47  1987-1996
Fernanda Ribeiro  POR  46  1993-2003
Derartu Tulu  ETH  44  1991-2004
Liz McColgan  GBR  35  1986-1995
Sifan Hassan  NED  35  2019-2023
Wang Junxia  CHN  35  1993-1996
Olga Bondarenko  RUS  35  1985-1993
Top 10 Olympic Games
Points
Derartu Tulu  ETH  35   
Tirunesh Dibaba  ETH  28   
Fernanda Ribeiro  POR  18   
Gete Wami  ETH  17   
Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot  KEN  17   
Liz McColgan  GBR  15   
Werknesh Kidane  ETH  14   
Lynn Jennings  USA  13   
Elana Meyer  RSA  12   
10  Tegla Loroupe  KEN  11   
Top 10 World Championships
Points
Tirunesh Dibaba  ETH  39   
Berhane Adere  ETH  39   
Letesenbet Gidey  ETH  28   
Tegla Loroupe  KEN  28   
Derartu Tulu  ETH  22   
Liz McColgan  GBR  21   
Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot  KEN  20   
Fernanda Ribeiro  POR  19   
Linet Chepkwemoi Masai  KEN  18   
Gete Wami  ETH  18   
Sally Barsosio  KEN  18   
Zhong Huandi  CHN  18   
Top 10 European Championships
Points
Yasemin Can  TUR  26   
Jo Pavey  GBR  25   
Sonia O'Sullivan  IRL  19   
Fernanda Ribeiro  POR  19   
Dulce Félix  POR  19   
Inga Abitova  RUS  19   
Lonah Chemtai Salpeter  ISR  18   
Kathrin Wessel  GER  16   
Paula Radcliffe  GBR  16   
10  Sabrina Mockenhaupt  GER  13