The men's eight (M8+) competition at the 1984 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Casitas in Ventura County, California, United States.

[1] New Zealand had won the last two world championships, and the other strong team, East Germany, was absent from the event due to the Eastern Bloc boycott.

But the final was won by Canada, with the United States and Australia the other medallists, and New Zealand coming a disappointing fourth.

[3][4][5][6][7] At the 1981 World Rowing Championships, East Germany came in fourth place, with the Soviet Union winning gold.

[9][10] With the Soviet Bloc boycott affecting the 1984 Summer Olympics, New Zealand was thus regarded as the strong favourite.