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 single sculls has been held every time that rowing has been contested, beginning in 1900. Three of the 18 single scullers from the 1952 Games returned: bronze medalist Teodor Kocerka of Poland, fourth-place finisher Tony Fox of Great Britain, and sixth-place finisher (and 1948 fourth-place finisher) John B. Kelly Jr. of the United States. Kocerka, who had also won the European championships in 1955 and the Diamond Challenge Sculls in 1955 and 1956, was the favorite. The challengers included 1956 European champion Vyacheslav Ivanov of the Soviet Union, 1953 European champion and 1954 Diamond Challenge winner Perica Vlašić of Yugoslavia, 1951 and 1953 Diamond Challenge winner Tony Fox of Great Britain, and Kelly. Mexico made its debut in the event; East and West Germany competed together as the United Team of Germany for the first time. Great Britain made its 11th appearance, most among nations, having missed only the 1904 Games in St. Louis.Competition format
This rowing event was a single scull event, meaning that each boat was propelled by a single rower. The "scull" portion means that the rower used two oars, one on each side of the boat. The course used the 2000 metres distance that became the Olympic standard in 1912. The competition dropped the second repechage after the semifinals, used in 1952. The tournament featured four rounds: quarterfinals, a repechage, semifinals, and a final. * Quarterfinals: Three heats of 4 boats each. Top two boats in each heat advance to the semifinals, remaining boats to the repechage. No eliminations. * Repechage: Two heats of 3 boats each. The winner of each heat rejoined the quarterfinal winners in the semifinals, with the remaining 4 boats (2nd and 3rd in each heat) eliminated. * Semifinals: Two heats of 4 boats each. The top two boats in each heat advanced to the final, the remaining boats (4 total) were eliminated. * Final: One heat of 4 boats.Schedule
All times areResults
Quarterfinals
The quarterfinals were held on 23 November. The first two rowers in each heat advanced to the semifinals, while the others went to the repechage.Quarterfinal 1
Quarterfinal 2
Quarterfinal 3
Repechage
The repechage round was held on 24 November, with three rowers for each repechage. The winner of the repechage is qualified for the semifinals.Repechage heat 1
Repechage heat 2
Semifinals
The semifinals were held on 26 November. The first two rowers in each semifinal advanced to the final.Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2
Final
The final round of men's single sculls was held on 27 November.Results summary
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rowing at the 1956 Summer Olympics - Men's single sculls Rowing at the 1956 Summer Olympics