The Men's 3,000 metres Steeplechase at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, USSR had an entrylist of 32 competitors, with three qualifying heats (32 runners) and two semifinals (24) before the final (12) took place on Thursday 31 July 1980.
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Former Mile and 1500 world record holder Filbert Bayi and Eshetu Tura battled at the front throughout the race. Bayi finally broke Tura on the last lap and was going on to victory. Bronisław Malinowski had stayed out of the battle, marking the leaders from about fourth place. As was his usual tactic, Malinowski launched into a sprint that is similar to the tactics used decades later by Ezekiel Kemboi, sprinting past Bayi over the water jump. The battle worn Bayi had no answer, just managing to stay ahead of Tura and the rest of the field. Malinowski was killed in a car accident a little over a year later.