The winner was Pentti Linnosvuo of Finland, the nation's first medal in the free pistol.

The Soviet Union also won its first medal in the event, with Makhmud Umarov's silver.

[2][3] Two of the top 10 shooters from the 1952 Games returned: gold medalist (and 1948 fourth-place finisher) Huelet Benner of the United States and sixth-place finisher (and 1936 gold and 1948 bronze medalist) Torsten Ullman of Sweden.

Australia, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Malaya, Pakistan, and South Korea each made their debut in the event.

The United States made its eighth appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the 1900 event.