In this race, Irving Jaffee was leading the competition, having outskated Norwegian defending world champion Bernt Evensen in their heat, when rising temperatures thawed the ice.

[1] In a controversial ruling, the Norwegian referee canceled the entire competition.

Although the International Olympic Committee reversed the referee's decision and awarded Jaffee the gold medal, the International Skating Union later overruled the IOC and restored the ruling.

[2] Jaffee should have received the gold medal, according to Evensen, but it never occurred.

(*) The record was set in a high altitude venue (more than 1000 metres above sea level) and on naturally frozen ice.