The men's 400 metres hurdles at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union had a start list of 22 competitors from 19 nations, with three quarterfinals (22 runners), two semifinals (16), and a final (8) that took place on Saturday July 26, 1980.

Vasyl Arkhypenko earned silver, the second consecutive Games that the Soviet Union reached the podium in the event.

Gary Oakes put Great Britain back on the podium after a one-Games absence with his bronze.

However, when the Olympics returned in 1920 after World War I, the men's 400 metres hurdles was back and would continue to be contested at every Games thereafter.

Also returning was 1972 gold medalist John Akii-Bua of Uganda, who had not competed in 1976 due to the African boycott.