The men's 1,500m metres was an event at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

With the absence of notable front runner, world record holder Filbert Bayi, who was part of the 1976 Summer Olympics boycott, the race devolved into a slow, tactical battle.

After a slow 62 second first lap, notable kicker Eamonn Coghlan rushed from the back of the field to the front, followed by mile world record holder, John Walker, but their action in the front only seemed to keep the pace slow.

As van Damme continued to chase Walker, Paul-Heinz Wellmann ran past the faltering athletes along the rail.

A defeated Coghlan tried not to give up, dipping for the finish line in vain almost 10 meters too early.

Coghlan held the title of "Chairman of the boards" as a spectacular indoor mile runner.

Neither man was in perfect health in any case, with Walker battling chronic compartment syndrome and Bayi fighting malaria.

The United States made its 18th appearance, the only nation to have competed in the men's 1500 metres at each Games to that point.