the olympic records for the event are 3:32.07 minutes for men, set by noah ngeny in 2000, and 3:53.96 minutes for women, set by paula ivan in 1988. the 1500 metres world record has been broken several times at the olympics: the men's record was beaten in 1900, 1936, and 1960, while the women's record was improved in 1972 (three times) and in 1980.