The men's hammer throw event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

12 throwers from 5 nations competed; four from Sweden, four from the United States, two from Canada, one from Great Britain, and one from Finland.

Carl Johan Lind took silver, earning Sweden's first medal in the hammer throw.

McGrath, who would earn seven AAU championships from 1908 to 1926, and fellow American and world-record holder Patrick Ryan, who would win eight AAU championships in that time, were expected to dominate the event.

McGrath injured his knee during the second throw in qualifying and withdrew, though still had thrown far enough to take fifth place.