The 5000 metres at the Summer Olympics has been contested since the fifth edition of the multi-sport event.

The competition format typically has two qualifying heats leading to a final between fifteen athletes.

At the inaugural 1912 Olympic 5000 metres, Hannes Kolehmainen set the first official IAAF world record for the event.

However, this remains the only time that the 5000 metres world record has been broken in Olympic competition.

Finland's period of great success in the 1920s and 1930s led to the wide usage of the nickname the Flying Finns; Kaarlo Maaninka was the last Finnish athlete to medal over 5000 m, in 1980.