[2] The event was won by Al Oerter of the United States, the nation's second consecutive and ninth overall victory in the men's discus throw.

The United States earned its second medal sweep in the event (after 1908), as Fortune Gordien took silver and Des Koch took bronze.

Gordien became the fifth man to win two medals in the event, and the first to do so in non-consecutive Games (silver in 1948, fourth place in 1952).

Consolini, the two-time Olympic medalist and three-time European champion, was the "slight favorite".

He had lost the record for a 3 week gap in 1953 to 1952 Olympic champion Sim Iness, before he made another improvement at a small Pasadena, California all comers track meet.

The United States made its 13th appearance, having competed in every edition of the Olympic men's discus throw to date.

In the first round of the final, Oerter threw an Olympic record 56.36 m (184 ft 10 in), Gordien 54.75m was second best while Mark Pharaoh held third a meter and a half ahead of Consolini.

The competition used the two-round format introduced in 1936, with the qualifying round completely separate from the divided final.