This was the fifth appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The men's coxed pair was one of the original four events in 1900, but was not held in 1904, 1908, or 1912. It returned to the programme after World War I and was held every Games from 1924 to 1992, when it (along with the men's coxed four) was replaced with the men's lightweight double sculls and men's lightweight coxless four.[2]
None of the crew members from the 1928 coxed pair event returned, though Edward Jennings had been the cox on the American bronze medal team in 1924.[2]
Brazil and Poland each made their debut in the event. France made its fifth appearance, the only nation to have competed in all editions of the event to that point.
Competition format
The coxed pair event featured three-person boats, with two rowers and a coxswain. It was a sweep rowing event, with the rowers each having one oar (and thus each rowing on one side). In sharp contrast to the 1928 tournament, which featured six rounds, the 1932 competition consisted of a single race. All four boats competed in the final. The course used the 2000 metres distance that became the Olympic standard in 1912.[3]
