Defending gold medalist from 1976 Alberto Juantorena of Cuba returned to try to repeat without competition from the Americans, but with an Achilles tendon injury from 1979.

[2] Botswana, Guinea, Laos, Libya, the Seychelles, Sierra Leone, and Syria appeared in this event for the first time.

Great Britain made its seventeenth appearance in the event, most of any present in Moscow but still one behind the United States at 18.

The "fastest loser" system, introduced in 1964, was available but not used because there were 8 first-round heats, making for even advancement.

The top four runners in each semifinal heat advanced, making an eight-man final.