The men's eight competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Wendouree near Ballarat, Australia.[1] It was held from 23 to 27 November.[2] There were 10 boats (90 competitors) from 10 nations, with each nation limited to a single boat in the event.[2] The event was won by the United States, the nation's eighth consecutive and 10th overall gold medal in the men's eight; the Americans had won every time they competed (missing 1908 and 1912). Canada took silver, its first medal in the men's eight since 1932. Australia repeated as bronze medalists.
Background
This was the 12th appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The men's eight has been held every time that rowing has been contested, beginning in 1900.[2]
The United States was the dominant nation in the event, with the nation winning the previous seven Olympic men's eight competitions (as well as the other two competitions which the United States had entered). Potential challengers included the Soviet Union (1952 Olympic silver medalists and European champions in 1953, 1954, and 1955), Czechoslovakia (1956 European champions), and Canada (1954 British Empire and Commonwealth champions).[2]
For the first time, no nations made their debut in the event. Canada, Great Britain, and the United States each made their 10th appearance, tied for most among nations to that point.
Competition format
The "eight" event featured nine-person boats, with eight rowers and a coxswain. It was a sweep rowing event, with the rowers each having one oar (and thus each rowing on one side). The course used the 2000 metres distance that became the Olympic standard in 1912 (with the exception of 1948).[3]
The 1952 competition featured four rounds: three main rounds (quarterfinals, semifinals, and a final) as well as a repechage after the quarterfinals.
The 10 boats were divided into 3 heats of 3 or 4 boats each for the quarterfinals. The winner and 2nd place boats in each heat (6 total) advanced directly to the semifinals, while the remaining boats (4 total) went to the repechage.
The repechage had 4 boats in a single heat. The top 2 boats rejoined the quarterfinal winners in the semifinals, while the bottom 2 boats were eliminated.
The semifinals placed the 8 boats in 2 heats, with 4 boats per heat. The winner and runner-up of each heat (4 boats total) advanced to the final, while the other boats (4 total) were eliminated.
The final round consisted of a single final for the medals and 4th place.
All three eventual medalists came from this heat. The heavily favored United States surprisingly finished third, possibly trying to conserve strength for later rounds; this sent the Americans to the repechage.[2]
In a rematch of the quarterfinals, this time the United States came out on top of Australia, though the race was close. The other two boats in this semifinal, the Soviet Union and Japan, were both well behind the leaders and were eliminated.
The start of the race looked as if it might be a replay of the first quarterfinal, with Australia and Canada battling for the lead and the United States in third, with a fourth boat (Sweden this time, rather than Great Britain) well behind. Canada took a clear lead just before the halfway mark. The United States, however, finally pulled ahead in the latter half and were able to hold off Canada. Australia kept close for most of the way but tired at the end.[2]
