The women's 5000 metres at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics was held at the Luzhniki Stadium on 14–17 August.

[1] With Margaret Wangari Muriuki dropping out injured in the first round,[2] the finals had three Ethiopians (four if you count Tejitu Daba) and three Americans and only two Kenyans.

Also missing by design is world record holder Tirunesh Dibaba who won the 10000 earlier, leaving Meseret Defar the 5000.

In the next lap Buze Diriba fell back to the trailing American duo of Molly Huddle and Shannon Rowbury.

[3] So prepared for victory, Defar and Ayana had already received their flags and were displaying them while the early leaders were still finishing.