50 kilometres Race Walk, Men

Track & field statistician Richard Hymans has pointed out that this race is unique in Olympic history as it contained the Olympic champions in this event from five consecutive Games – 1948-1964. The Italian favorite was Abdon Pamich, who had placed fourth in Melbourne. Donald Thompson (GBR) had also raced in Melbourne but was overcome by the heat and did not finish. To prepare himself for the heat of Roma, he trained in his bathroom after setting it up as a steam room with a hot shower and electric heaters. After several of the leaders were disqualified, Thompson moved into the lead at the halfway point. The 1948 champion, John Ljunggren, caught Thompson at 35 km., but Thompson steadied and eventually pulled ahead to win by the closest margin in the race thru the 1960 Olympics.