[2] The event was won by Charles Bacon of the United States, defeating teammate and defending champion Harry Hillman by 0.3 seconds in the final.

Hillman was the first man to earn multiple medals in the 400 metres hurdles.

Jimmy Tremeer of Great Britain earned bronze, the first medal for the nation in the men's 400 metres hurdles.

One of the four hurdlers from the 1904 Games returned: gold medalist Harry Hillman of the United States.

[3] Australasia, Great Britain, Hungary, and the Netherlands each made their debut in the event.

The United States made its third appearance, the only nation to have competed at every edition of the event to that point.

In only the fourth actual race of the first round, and the third in which both runners finished, Burton caught Meslot in the straight, and won by four meters.

Burton led after the hurdles, and despite losing ground in the straight, defeated both of his countrymen.

Burton pulled up lame, allowing Tremeer to win at jogging pace.