It was held from 13 to 19 October and was unexpectedly won by the team from New Zealand, which secured the country its first Olympic rowing gold medal.

Thirteen teams (66 competitors, with the Soviet Union making one substitution) from 13 nations attended the competition.

[2] At the 1964 Summer Olympics, the men's coxed four event was won by the United Team of Germany.

[1] The New Zealand team had originally been selected as four rowers and a cox as a backup to the country's eight that had qualified.

They started training together in Christchurch on the Avon River and gained the impression that they had the potential to win a medal as a coxed four.

There were stern discussions with the New Zealand selectors but in the end, the rowers got their way and were put forward as a team of their own.

[3] Mexico made its debut in the event; East and West Germany competed separately for the first time.

In another surprise, the Swiss boat overtook the Italians for the bronze medal position.