The men's 1500 metre event at the 1928
Olympic Games took place between August 1 & August 2.
Forty-four athletes from 19 nations competed.
[ NOCs were limited to 4 competitors each.][Official Report, p. 374.] The event was won by Harri Larva
Harry Edvin "Harri" Larva (born Lagerström, 9 September 1906 – 15 November 1980) was a Finnish athlete who won the 1500 m race at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He never excelled in this event nationally and was the Finnish champion in the 800 m ...
of Finland, the nation's second consecutive victory in the 1500 metres. France won its first medal in the event since 1900, with Jules Ladoumègue
Jules Ladoumègue (10 December 1906 – 2 March 1973) was a French middle-distance runner. He became a running star as the sport enjoyed a huge resurgence at the start of the Great Depression, fueled in large part by newsreel coverage. His caree ...
's silver matching the nation's best result.
Background
This was the eighth appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Sixth-place finisher Lloyd Hahn
Lloyd Hahn (August 7, 1898 – January 1983) was an American runner who competed at the 1924 and 1928 Olympics. In 1924 he finished sixth in the 1500 m. He failed to reach the final in this event in 1928, but finished fifth in the 800 m even ...
of the United States was the only finalist from the 1924 Games to return. Defending champion Paavo Nurmi of Finland was in Amsterdam, but competed only in longer distances this Games. Finland was still well-represented, however, as Eino Purje and Harri Larva
Harry Edvin "Harri" Larva (born Lagerström, 9 September 1906 – 15 November 1980) was a Finnish athlete who won the 1500 m race at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He never excelled in this event nationally and was the Finnish champion in the 800 m ...
were among the favorites, along with Jules Ladoumègue
Jules Ladoumègue (10 December 1906 – 2 March 1973) was a French middle-distance runner. He became a running star as the sport enjoyed a huge resurgence at the start of the Great Depression, fueled in large part by newsreel coverage. His caree ...
of France and world-record holder Otto Peltzer of Germany.
Competition format
The competition consisted of two rounds, the format used since 1908. As in 1924, there were six semifinals, this time with anywhere between 6 and 9 runners in each, and once again the top two runners in each heat advanced to the final, for a 12-man final race.[Official Report, pp. 417–20.]
Records
These were the standing world and Olympic records (in minutes) prior to the 1928 Summer Olympics.
In the final Harri Larva
Harry Edvin "Harri" Larva (born Lagerström, 9 September 1906 – 15 November 1980) was a Finnish athlete who won the 1500 m race at the 1928 Summer Olympics. He never excelled in this event nationally and was the Finnish champion in the 800 m ...
set a new Olympic record at 3:53.2.
Schedule
Results
Semifinals
The top two runners from each of the six heats advanced to the Final Round.
Semifinal 1
Semifinal 2
Semifinal 3
Semifinal 4
Semifinal 5
Semifinal 6
Final
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Athletics At The 1928 Summer Olympics - Men's 1500 Metres
Men's 1500 metre
1500 metres at the Olympics
Men's events at the 1928 Summer Olympics