[1] The event was won by Enzo Sacchi of Italy, the nation's second consecutive victory in the men's sprint.

The man who would have been his biggest competitor, Russell Mockridge of Australia, competed only in the track time trial and tandem.

[2] Finland, Guatemala, Jamaica, Japan, Romania, and the Soviet Union each made their debut in the men's sprint.

The third repechage was a single race of the four semifinal losers, with the winner advancing to the final.

Cyril Peacock broke the Olympic record with 11.7 seconds in the sixth heat of round 1.

Potzernheim bettered that time in the fourth quarterfinal, finishing the last 200 metres in 11.6 seconds.

Lionel Cox matched that time in the second semifinal, with Potzernheim tying it again in the third repechage.