Athletics at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Men's 1500 metres

The top four runners in each of the 4 heats advanced, as well as the next two fastest runners from across all heats.

The fastest four runners in each of the two semifinals and the fastest remaining runner qualified for the final.

1500 m final: Alan Simpson (155), Dyrol Burleson (714), Witold Baran (499), John Whetton (160), Peter Snell (466), John Davies (467).

World and Olympic record holder, Herb Elliott was not back to defend his title, having retired from the sport at 24 years of age. 1960 800 metre champion Peter Snell entered the Olympics with the intent of duplicating his feat, doubling over similar distances at the previous 1962 Commonwealth Games. He had already lowered Elliott's mile world record by a tick two years earlier. Snell had already successfully defended his 800 metre title.

As had been his typical strategy, Snell chose to stay in a marking position behind the leaders. Splits were recorded at 400 metres, 800 metres, and 1200 metres. Michel Bernard led after the first lap, Josef Odložil and John Davies were in front after two. Wary of being boxed in as he was in the 1960 Olympic 800, at the bell his countryman Davies held the lead while Snell was boxed in by Dyrol Burleson. He slowed then decisively moved to the outside to be in a position to run. Others were also scrambling for position, Witold Baran made his move and had the lead at the end of the third lap but Davies again assumed the lead down the backstretch. With about 220 metres to go, Snell accelerated, blowing past Baran and Davies, the others would now be racing for second place. Snell extended his lead to almost 10 metres, crossing the finish line 1.5 seconds ahead of anyone else. Through the turn, Alan Simpson got around Davies and Baran, behind them Burleson was moving to the outside. Even further back, Odložil began his final sprint around the outside of Burleson. Davies was able to get barely ahead of Simpson, holding him off at the finish line but that would only be for bronze as Odložil came roaring down the home stretch, catching both before the finish to grab silver.

Place	Athlete	Nation	Time		Lap 1	Lap 2	Lap 3
1	Peter Snell	New Zealand	3:38.1		0:58.8	2:00.7	2:59.5
2	Josef Odložil	Czechoslovakia	3:39.6		0:59.2	2:00.5	2:59.7
3	John Davies	New Zealand	3:39.6		0:59.0	2:00.5	2:59.3
4	Alan Simpson	Great Britain	3:39.7		0:58.9	2:01.0	3:00.0
5	Dyrol Burleson	United States	3:40.0		0:58.3	2:01.1	2:59.6
6	Witold Baran	Poland	3:40.3		0:58.7	2:00.8	2:59.4
7	Michel Bernard	France	3:41.2		0:58.0	2:01.3	2:59.7
8	John Whetton	Great Britain	3:42.4		0:58.5	2:00.7	2:59.9
9	Jean Wadoux	France	3:45.4		0:59.3	2:01.5	3:00.3