The Men's 3000 metres steeplechase event at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Daegu Stadium on August 29 & September 1.
The final was a slow race with Ugandans Jacob Araptany and Benjamin Kiplagat controlling the pace, with three Kenyans immediately behind. As the last lap began, Kiplagat fell back but Araptany led until one barrier before the water jump. There Ezekiel Kemboi blasted past, with Brimin Kipruto in tow. Kemboi had such a substantial lead coming off the last barrier, he started celebrating and drifted out to lane 7 where he finished. His post race, shirtless celebration dance was one of the most exuberant in recent memory, rivaling some celebrations normally performed by sprinters. Araptany faded at the finish, passed by Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad for the bronze.
| width=200 bgcolor=gold | Gold | width=200 bgcolor=silver | Silver | width=200 bgcolor=CC9966 | Bronze |
| Ezekiel Kemboi | Brimin Kipruto | Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad |
| World record | 7:53.63 | Brussels, Belgium | 3 September 2004 | ||
| Championship record | 8:00.43 | Berlin, Germany | 18 August 2009 | ||
| World leading | 7:53.64 | Monaco | 22 July 2011 | ||
| African record | 7:53.64 | Monaco | 22 July 2011 | ||
| Asian record | 7:53.63 | Brussels, Belgium | 3 September 2004 | ||
| North, Central American and Caribbean record | 8:08.82 | Rome, Italy | 14 July 2006 | ||
| South American record | 8:14.41 | Mar del Plata, Argentina | 22 March 1995 | ||
| European record | 8:01.18 | Berlin, Germany | 18 August 2009 | ||
| Oceanian record | 8:14.05 | Koblenz, West Germany | 29 August 1984 |
| Date | Time | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|
| August 29, 2011 | 10:40 | Heats | |
| September 1, 2011 | 20:25 | Final |
Qualification: First 4 in each heat (Q) and the next 3 fastest (q) advance to the final.
| Rank | Heat | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 8:10.93 | Q | |||
| 2 | 2 | 8:11.50 | Q, NR | |||
| 3 | 2 | 8:11.81 | Q, SB | |||
| 4 | 2 | 8:12.04 | Q, PB | |||
| 5 | 2 | 8:13.22 | q | |||
| 6 | 1 | 8:18.57 | Q | |||
| 7 | 3 | 8:19.96 | Q | |||
| 8 | 3 | 8:20.28 | Q | |||
| 9 | 3 | 8:21.89 | Q | |||
| 10 | 3 | 8:22.41 | Q, PB | |||
| 11 | 3 | 8:23.09 | q, SB | |||
| 12 | 1 | 8:23.71 | Q | |||
| 13 | 1 | 8:23.76 | Q | |||
| 14 | 3 | 8:23.79 | q | |||
| 15 | 1 | 8:23.88 | Q, SB | |||
| 16 | 2 | 8:26.75 | SB | |||
| 17 | 1 | 8:28.97 | ||||
| 18 | 2 | 8:29.02 | SB | |||
| 19 | 1 | 8:30.02 | PB | |||
| 20 | 1 | 8:30.37 | ||||
| 21 | 2 | 8:31.52 | ||||
| 22 | 3 | 8:31.83 | ||||
| 23 | 1 | 8:34.44 | ||||
| 24 | 2 | 8:34.70 | ||||
| 25 | 2 | 8:36.23 | ||||
| 26 | 1 | 8:36.67 | ||||
| 27 | 1 | 8:37.35 | ||||
| 28 | 3 | 8:38.42 | ||||
| 29 | 2 | 8:39.85 | ||||
| 30 | 3 | 8:39.96 | ||||
| 31 | 2 | 8:44.09 | ||||
| 32 | 1 | 8:46.14 | ||||
| 33 | 1 | 8:51.20 | ||||
| 34 | 3 | 8:58.52 | ||||
| 3 |
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:14.85 | |||||
| 8:16.05 | |||||
| 8:16.09 | |||||
| 8:17.56 | |||||
| 8:18.37 | |||||
| 8:18.67 | |||||
| 8:19.31 | |||||
| 8:19.69 | SB | ||||
| 8:21.97 | |||||
| 10 | 8:22.21 | ||||
| 11 | 8:25.39 | ||||
| 12 | 8:30.39 | ||||
| 13 | 8:30.47 | ||||
| 14 | 8:33.56 | ||||
| 15 | 8:33.84 |