The event was won by Yasuji Miyazaki of Japan, snapping a five-Games American win streak.

Japan was only the third nation to win a gold medal in the event (Hungary had won the first two, the United States the next five).

The final was entirely made up of Japanese and American swimmers, three each; Japan took the top two places as Tatsugo Kawaishi earned silver.

[2] Two of the seven finalists from 1928 returned: silver medalist István Bárány of Hungary and sixth-place finisher Walter Spence of Canada.

Two-time gold medalist Johnny Weissmuller of the United States had retired to focus on his acting career; Tarzan the Ape Man was released earlier in 1932.