1,000 metres Freestyle, Men

John Jarvis of Great Britain was the heavy favorite. At the British Championships, he had won the 440 yards in 1898 and 1900, the 880 yards from 1898-1901, the mile from 1897-1902, and he would win the long-distance championship from 1898-1904. The longer the race, the better he swam. Jarvis won this race easily, by over one minute, although he had won his heat by three minutes. However, a French swimmer named Jules Verbecke posted one of the most lopsided victories ever in the second heat, winning by almost seven minutes. This was surely more a function of his competition, as he finished only eighth in the final, and his qualifying time was bettered by eight other swimmers.