Unlike the 100, this race would follow the predicted course and turn into a triumph for the USA’s Jack Medica but only after a tremendous duel. Shumpei Uto took a lead over Medica but the American fought back and narrowed a lead. A spurt by the Japanese swimmer pushed him further ahead but his exertion took much out of him and Medica responded. Medica and Uto battled for gold in the final 50 metres with the American only taking the lead with 10 metres to go.
First 3 from each Semi and Best 4th (Robert Leivers, Great Britain) advanced to Final.
Semi 1
time
gap
L
Y
Rk.
1. Shunpei Uto
Japan
4:48.4
+0.2s
1
17
3.
2. Ralph Flanagan
United States
4:49.9
+1.7s
3
17
4.
3. Hiroshi Negami
Japan
4:55.4
+7.2s
4
24
5.
4. John Macionis
United States
4:56.4
+8.2s
6
20
8.
5. Hans Freese
Germany
4:58.5
+10.3s
5
18
9.
6. Robert Pirie
Canada
4:58.7
+10.5s
2
20
10.
7. Odon Grof
Hungary
5:01.9
+13.7s
7
21
11.
Semi 2
time
gap
L
Y
Rk.
1. Shozo Makino
Japan
4:48.2
5
21
1.
2. Jack Medica
United States
4:48.2
4
21
1.
3. Jean Taris
France
4:55.6
+7.4s
2
27
6.
4. Robert Leivers
Great Britain
4:55.7
+7.5s
6
21
7.
5. Heinz Arendt
Germany
5:13.4
+25.2s
3
19
12.
6. Otto Przywara
Germany
5:14.9
+26.7s
7
21
13.
-. Walter Ledgard Sr
Peru
DNS
1
20
-.
Like the 100 metre freestyle at the same Games, this event was predicted to be a battle between an American world record holder and a strong Japanese trio.
One competitor who did not qualify from his heat was Brazil’s João Havelange. Havelange became one of the world’s leading sports administrators as both a long serving member of the IOC and as president of FIFA, the governing body of world football.