[3] The event was won by Juan Carlos Zabala of Argentina, the nation's first Olympic marathon medal.

Great Britain also earned its first Olympic marathon medal with Sam Ferris's silver, while Finland made the marathon podium for a fourth consecutive Games as Armas Toivonen won bronze.

Ferris, along with Dunky Wright (20th in 1928) were among the best-known runners who competed; Armas Toivonen led the always-strong Finnish team.

Finland was without Paavo Nurmi, who would have been favored but was suspended just days before the Games began for allegedly accepting excessive expense money in violation of amateurism rules.

The United States made its ninth appearance, the only nation to have competed in each Olympic marathon to that point.