[2][3] The event was won, in a disputed final, by Toni Merkens of Germany, the nation's first medal in the men's sprint.

Arie van Vliet took the silver medal, the fifth consecutive Games that a Dutch cyclist had finished in the top two.

Two of the semifinalists from 1932 returned: Louis Chaillot of France, who had won the silver medal, and Dunc Gray of Australia, who had not started the bronze medal race but had won the track time trial event.

The favorites in 1936, however, were Toni Merkens of Germany and Arie van Vliet of the Netherlands, the winner and runner-up in the 1935 World Championship.

[2] The Republic of China, New Zealand, Norway, and Peru each made their debut in the men's sprint.

The last-placed finisher in each repechage was eliminated, while the winner advanced along with the second-place rider in the three-man heats.

The semifinals were also head-to-head competitions, with the winners advancing to the final and the losers going to a bronze medal match.