The men's 5000 metres event at the 1952 Olympic Games took place July 22 and July 24.

The final was won by Emil Zátopek of Czechoslovakia.

[1] The winning margin was 0.8 seconds.

The fastest five runners from each heat qualified for the final.

Heat 1 Heat 2 Heat 3 Key: DNF = Did not finish, OR = Olympic record