Athletics at the 1904 Summer Olympics – Men's 60 metres

This was the second and last time the event was held; it was held previously only in 1900. The 60 metres would become a staple of indoor athletics, while the outdoor athletics found in the Olympics would have 100 metres as its shortest sprint. None of the runners from 1900 returned. Favorites included 1903 AAU 100 metres champion Archie Hahn, 1904 AAU 100 metres champion Lawson Robertson, 1903 IC4A 100 metres champion Fay Moulton, and 1904 IC4A 100 metres runner-up Nathaniel Cartmell. George Poage was the first black man to compete in athletics at the Olympics with his appearance in this event's semifinals; he would become the first black man to medal in athletics when he took bronze in both the 200 and 400 metres hurdles.[1]

Canada made its debut in the event. Hungary and the United States each competed for the second time, the only two nations to compete at both 60 metres events.

These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1904 Summer Olympics.

World record		none
Olympic record	Alvin Kraenzlein (USA)	7.0	Paris, France	15 July 1900

Clyde Blair, William Hogenson, and Archie Hahn repeated the Olympic record of 7.0 seconds.

The competition consisted of three rounds: semifinals, a repechage, and a final. The top runner in each of the four semifinals advanced directly to the final. The second-place runner in each semifinal competed in the repechage. The top two men in the repechage also advanced to the final.[1]

• Wudarski, Pawel (1999). "Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich" (in Polish). Retrieved 13 December 2006.