The men's individual cross country event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1924 Summer Olympics.

[1] The first three runners for each nation to finish this event also counted towards the cross country team result.

[2] The course was unusually difficult, including stone paths that were covered in knee-high thistles and weeds.

This, combined with extreme weather conditions of over 40 °C and noxious fumes emitted from a power plant near the course, resulted in only 15 of the 38 starters crossing the finish line.

[3] After the event, both the Red Cross and local police spent hours searching for runners who had passed out on the course.