[2] In fourth place, Milkha Singh ran the Indian national record that lasted 44 years until the 2004 Olympics.

The (one year) younger Malcolm Spence representing South Africa eventually netted the bronze medal, while the senior Malcolm Spence from Jamaica, shortened his name to "Mal" while representing the British West Indies, achieved a bronze as part of their 4x400 metres relay, one second ahead of the 4th place South African team.

In the final, South African Malcolm Spence took off hard from the gun, making up the stagger and passing Milkha Singh to his outside before the second turn.

Singh was the best of the rest, holding his own the second half of the race against the initial lead of Spence, but unable to gain much ground.

Of the finalists from 1956, bronze medalist Voitto Hellstén of Finland and sixth-place finisher Malcolm Spence returned in 1960.

[4] Afghanistan, the Bahamas, the British West Indies, Ghana, Guyana, Tunisia, and Uganda appeared in this event for the first time.

The United States made its fourteenth appearance in the event, the only nation to compete in it at every Olympic Games to that point.