[2] The photo finish final was won by American Eddie Tolan in a world record-equalling time of 10.38 seconds.

Defending Olympic champion and world record holder Percy Williams of Canada did not advance past the semifinals.

[4] This was the ninth time the event was held, having appeared at every Olympics since the first in 1896. Notable entrants included Canada's Percy Williams, the defending gold medalist and world record holder, and American Ralph Metcalfe, NCAA champion and U.S. Olympic trial winner.

[4] Two electrical timing devices, one hand-operated and one camera-based, were introduced to "double check" the stop watches.

The United States was the only nation to have appeared at each of the first nine Olympic men's 100 metres events.