Athletics at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's marathon

This was the 13th appearance of the event, which is one of 12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. Returning runners from the 1952 marathon included defending champion Emil Zátopek of Czechoslovakia and fifth-place finisher Veikko Karvonen of Finland. Zátopek's primary challenger was Alain Mimoun of France, who had won three silver medals in the 5000 metres and 10000 metres track events in 1948 and 1952—all behind Zátopek. Mimoun was making his marathon debut. Zátopek, on the other hand, was still recovering from hernia surgery.[2]

Burma, Ethiopia, Iran, Kenya, and New Zealand each made their first appearance in Olympic marathons; Germany appeared for the first time as the "United Team of Germany". The United States made its 13th appearance, the only nation to have competed in each Olympic marathon to that point.

Map of marathon course

As all Olympic marathons, the competition was a single race. The marathon distance of 26 miles, 385 yards) was run over an out-and-back course, starting and finishing at the Olympic Stadium.[2]

These were the standing world and Olympic records prior to the 1956 Summer Olympics.

World record	Jim Peters (GBR)	2:17:39.4	London, United Kingdom	26 June 1954
Olympic record	Emil Zátopek (TCH)	2:23:03.2	Helsinki, Finland	27 July 1952

No new world or Olympic bests were set during the competition.

All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10)

• Official Report
• Results