The 2018 silver medalist, Patrick Roest, qualified for the Olympics as well, but did not skate this distance.

Joey Mantia was leading the 2021–22 ISU Speed Skating World Cup at the 1500 m distance with four races completed before the Olympics, followed by Ning Zhongyan and Connor Howe.

Mantia also skated the season best time, 1:41.15 in Salt Lake City on 4 December 2021.

Krol skated faster than the Olympic record, but Nuis improved his time in pair 11.

[4] Prior to this competition, the existing world, Olympic and track records were as follows.