East Germany took its first medal in the 1500 metres since starting to compete separately, with Jürgen Straub's silver.

None of the 1976 finalists returned, with the American-led boycott keeping out defending champion John Walker of New Zealand as well as top American runner Steve Scott.

The British Olympic Association did not join the boycott, so Ovett and Coe raced in Moscow.

[2] Benin, Botswana, Kuwait, Lesotho, Libya, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Syria, Vietnam, and Zambia each made their first appearance in the event.

Great Britain and France each made their 17th appearance, most of those competing in 1980, though still one fewer than the United States (which had had runners in each of the 18 previous 1500 metres competitions).