Jürgen Straub (born November 3, 1953, in Weitersroda) is a former East German middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 metres.

Straub's greatest race won him a silver medal at the 1980 Summer Olympics over 1500 metres representing East Germany, behind Sebastian Coe.

Needing a strategy to compete against the two more favoured and fast-finishing British runners, Straub suddenly accelerated with still 700 meters of the race remaining and then steadily increased his pace to the end, overhauled only by Coe and crossing the finishing line in obvious delight.

This result places him sixth on the German all-time performers list, behind Thomas Wessinghage, Harald Hudak, Jens-Peter Herold, Dieter Baumann and Rüdiger Stenzel.

[2] Straub was an excellent 3000 m steeplechaser as well, winning three East German national titles over that distance.