The men's 1500 metres event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place between 3 and 7 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium.

Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya took silver, returning that nation to the podium for the first time since a four-Games medal streak ended in 2008.

Cheruiyot won the 2019 World Championships by breaking away to a two-second victory in an exceptionally fast race.

2019 was in sharp contrast to the slow, strategic race in Rio, won by Matthew Centrowitz more than 20 seconds slower.

After the runners sorted themselves out at the start of the final, Jakob, the only Ingebrigtsen in the race, moved around the pack to take the lead and press the pace.

Hoare began moving backward, Jake Wightman came forward to race Kipsang.

Cheruiyot looked back to see who else was going to try to pass him, an obvious sign he had nothing more to offer to chase Ingebrigtsen.

Kerr got past Kipsang and chased Cheruiyot to the finish, leaning at the line still didn't quite snatch silver.

For the first time in Olympic history, no nations made their men's 1500 metres debut this Games.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the period was suspended from 6 April 2020 to 30 November 2020, with the end date extended to 29 June 2021.

[9] Original 8th place finisher Sadik Mikhou was later disqualified on the 8th of August for blood doping after an out of competition test produced an abnormal result.