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Athletics at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games:

Men's 4 × 400 metres Relay

Athletics at the 1956 Summer Games: Previous Summer Games ▪ Next Summer Games

Events:
Phases:

Host City: Melbourne, Australia
Location: Melbourne Cricket Club Stadium
Date Started: November 30, 1956
Date Finished: December 1, 1956

Gold:USA United States
Silver:AUS Australia
Bronze:GBR Great Britain

Summary

Jamaica was no longer the dominant 4x400 relay team they had been from 1948-52, and the United States was favored in the final. World record holder Lou Jones gave the US the lead on the opening leg. Australia pulled even at the end of 800 metres, but after that the US pulled away for the gold medal. The Australians took silver, with future IOC Member Kevan Gosper running the anchor.

Final Standings

Glossary ▪ CSV ▪ PRE
Rank Team NOC Medal
1 United States USA Gold
2 Australia AUS Silver
3 Great Britain GBR Bronze
4 Germany GER
5 Canada CAN
AC Jamaica JAM
3 h1r1/2 Czechoslovakia TCH
3 h2r1/2 France FRA
3 h3r1/2 Soviet Union URS
4 h1r1/2 Finland FIN
4 h2r1/2 Japan JPN
4 h3r1/2 Kenya KEN
5 h2r1/2 Puerto Rico PUR
5 h3r1/2 Ethiopia ETH
6 h2r1/2 Colombia COL