| Event: | Men's 5000 metres |
| Games: | 1956 Summer |
| Venue: | Melbourne Cricket Ground |
| Dates: | 26 November (heats) 28 November (final) |
| Competitors: | 23 |
| Nations: | 13 |
| Win Value: | 13:39.6 |
| Longnames: | yes |
| Gold: | Vladimir Kuts |
| Goldnoc: | URS |
| Silver: | Gordon Pirie |
| Silvernoc: | GBR |
| Bronze: | Derek Ibbotson |
| Bronzenoc: | GBR |
| Prev: | 1952 |
| Next: | 1960 |
The men's 5000 metres was an event at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. The final was held on Wednesday November 28, 1956. There were a total number of 23 participants from 13 nations. Christopher Chataway, a world leading 5000 m runner in 1954, suffered from stomach cramps in the final, and finished 11th. The favorite, Vladimir Kuts, led the race from the start. By 4000 m he separated from others and continued pulling away until the finish line.[1]
| RANK | ATHLETE | HEAT | FINAL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14:15.4 | 13:39.6 | |||
| 14:25.6 | 13:50.6 | |||
| 14:18.8 | 13:54.4 | |||
| 4. | 14:32.6 | 14:03.4 | ||
| 5. | 14:14.2 | 14:04.6 | ||
| 6. | 14:18.6 | 14:09.8 | ||
| 7. | 14:29.4 | 14:19.0 | ||
| 8. | 14:29.0 | 14:21.0 | ||
| 9. | 14:28.0 | 14:22.4 | ||
| 10. | 14:32.4 | 14:22.4 | ||
| 11. | 14:32.6 | 14:28.8 | ||
| 12. | 14:18.8 | 14:31.8 | ||
| - | 14:26.8 | DNF | ||
| - | 14:25.6 | DNF | ||
| - | 14:14.6 | DNS | ||
| - | 14:24.2 | DNQ | ||
| - | 14:37.0 | DNQ | ||
| - | 14:40.6 | DNQ | ||
| - | 14:51.4 | DNQ | ||
| - | 14:52.0 | DNQ | ||
| - | 14:59.0 | DNQ | ||
| - | 15:12.0 | DNQ | ||
| - | DNF | DNQ |