The men's 5000 metres walk event at the 1981 European Athletics Indoor Championships was held on 22 February.[1] It was the first time that race walking was contested at the championships.
Results edit
| Rank | Name | Nationality | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Hartwig Gauder |  East Germany |
19:08.59 | CR |
 |
Maurizio Damilano |  Italy |
19:13.90 | |
 |
Gérard Lelièvre |  France |
19:55.02 | |
| 4 | Giorgio Damilano | Italy |
20:31.97 | |
| 5 | Dominique Guebey | France |
20:41.25 | |
| 6 | Pascal Lenglart | France |
21:41.37 | |
| 7 | Roger Mills |  Great Britain |
22:08.87 |