The men's coxed four competition at the 1952 Summer Olympics took place at Mei Bay, Helsinki, Finland.

Of the New Zealand team that had won the 1950 British Empire Games, three rowers were in the 1952 Olympic event: Ted Johnson, John O'Brien, and Colin Johnstone.

The Danish team was made up of the 1950 European Rowing Championships winners: Niels Kristensen, Ove Nielsen, Peter Hansen, Bent Blach Petersen, and Eivin Kristensen.

In the final, they defeated the Swizz quad, while the team from the USA—the winners of the 1948 Olympic competition—won bronze.

France and the United States both made their seventh appearance, tied for most among nations to that point.

[9][10] Three heats were rowed in the semifinals repechage on 22 July,[7] with the winning teams progressing to the final.