The men's discus throw event at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, Soviet Union had an entry list of 18 competitors from 12 nations, with one qualifying group and the final (12) held on Monday July 28, 1980.

The event was won by Viktor Rashchupkin of the Soviet Union, the nation's first medal and first victory in the men's discus throw.

The United States, which had earned at least one medal in every appearance of the event prior to 1980, missed the podium due to the boycott.

Returning finalists from the 1976 Games were silver medalist Wolfgang Schmidt of East Germany and tenth-place finisher Velko Velev of Bulgaria.

That injury, along with the absence of the American team due to boycott (1976 Olympic champion Mac Wilkins was still a top thrower, and four-time gold medalist Al Oerter had come out of retirement) left the competition open.