Forty-eight speed skaters from 16 nations competed.

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

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

In 1956 he shared the win with fellow countryman Yuri Mikhaylov.

Grishin was the second speed skater to win two gold medals in 1500 metres competitions after Clas Thunberg won in 1924 and 1928.