First 3 from each 2 semi-finals progressed to Final.
Semi 1
time
+time
t.a.
Y
1. Rune Larsson
SWE
51.9s
OR
52.0
24
2. Dick Ault
USA
52.1s
+0.15
22
3. Duncan White
SRI
52.1s
+0.34
30
4. Jean-Claude Arifon
FRA
52.3s
+0.39
21
5. Jeff Kirk
USA
52.5s
+0.49
24
6. Jacques André
FRA
56.3s
29
Semi 2
time
+time
t.a.
Y
1. Roy Cochran
USA
51.9s
=OR
51.8
29
2. Yves Cros
FRA
52.5s
+0.84
24
3. Ottavio Missoni
ITA
53.4s
+1.50
27
4. Harry Whittle
GBR
53.4s
+1.58
26
5. Bebbe Storskrubb
FIN
53.5s
+1.85
31
6. John Holland
NZL
53.9s
+2.07
21
After uneventful heats with White the fastest man in 53.6, the semi-
finals offered much more excitement, Larsson won the first race in
51.9, not as fast as Tisdall in 1932, but still an Olympic record. Ault just
took second ahead of White (both 52.1), with Arifon in the outside
lane, just behind in 52.2. Jeff Kirk (USA) placed fifth, 0.9 quicker than
Missoni, who qualified from the other semi, a rare instance of poor
seeding. Missoni won fame and fortune in later life as a fashion design-
er in Italy.
Cochran, the favourite, and US number one as far back as 1939, won
the second semi in 51.9, well ahead of Cros (52.5). Cochran and White
led the final until the fourth hurdle, when Cochran took command and
opened up a 5m gap on the field. He won easily, with White comfort-
ably holding off Larsson for the silver medal.