The women's 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2008 Summer Olympics occurred on 15–17 August at the Beijing National Stadium, the first time this event had ever been held at the Olympics.
The qualifying standards were 9:46.00 (A standard) and 9:55.00 (B standard).
In the Final, Gulnara Samitova-Galkina of Russia won by 8.60 seconds, with a new world record of 8:58.81. She was the first woman to break the nine-minute barrier for this event.
Bronze medalist Yekaterina Volkova of Russia tested positive for dehydrochlormethyltestosterone (turinabol) and was disqualified.
<small>All times are China Standard Time (UTC+8)</small>
Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows:
The following new world and Olympic records were set during this competition.
Qualification: First 4 in each heat(Q) and the next 3 fastest(q) advance to the Final.
(WR - World Record, NR - National Record, AR - Area Record, PB - Personal Best, SB - Season Best)