The Women's 5000 m speed skating competition for the 2002 Winter Olympics was held in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States.

With the win, Pechstein also secures at least one medal in four consecutive Winter Games (1992–2002).

Clara Hughes and Gretha Smit surprise by ending up on the podium alongside Pechstein.

Smit, who broke the world record en route to finishing second, only started competing in long track skating a year before the Games, although she and her sisters had proven almost unbeatable in marathon skating, which is performed in groups.

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.