The men's single sculls competition at the 1960 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Albano, Italy.

[2] The event was won by Vyacheslav Ivanov of the Soviet Union, the second man to successfully repeat as Olympic champion (after Australia's Bobby Pearce in 1928 and 1932).

Australia's three-Games podium streak ended when Stuart Mackenzie fell ill and could not compete.

[2] Three of the 12 single scullers from the 1956 Games returned: gold medalist Vyacheslav Ivanov of the Soviet Union, fourth-place finisher (and 1952 bronze medalist) Teodor Kocerka of Poland, and fifth-place finisher James Hill of New Zealand.

But Mackenzie became ill before the competition and did not compete, leaving Ivanov as the heavy favorite to repeat.

Great Britain made its 12th appearance, most among nations, having missed only the 1904 Games in St. Louis.