The men's sprint event at the 1980 Summer Olympics took place on 23–26 July 1980 in Krylatskoye Sports Complex Velodrome.

The event was won by Lutz Heßlich of East Germany, the nation's first victory in the men's sprint.

Sergei Kopylov of the host Soviet Union earned bronze.

Lutz Heßlich of East Germany was the 1979 world champion and the favorite in Moscow.

The 1980 competition, despite an even smaller starting field than in 1976 (15 cyclists, down from 18), actually increased the number of rounds back to 10 (from eight in 1976).