The men's 15 kilometre cross-country skiing competition at the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo, Japan, was held on Monday 7 February at the Makomanai Cross Country Events Site.

[1][2] Each skier started at half a minute intervals, skiing the entire 15 kilometre course.

Lars-Göran Åslund of Sweden was the 1970 World champion and Harald Grønningen of Norway was the defending Olympic champion from the 1968 Olympics in Grenoble, France.

[3] Sources:[1][4]