Swimming at the 1960 Roma Summer Games:

Murray Rose had won the gold medal in this event in Australia but the world record in 1960 was held by his countryman John Konrads, who had recorded 17:11.0 in Sydney in February. Also considered challengers were American George Breen, who in Melbourne had set a world record in the prelims before winning a bronze medal, and Japan’s Tsuyoshi Yamanaka, silver medalist from Melbourne. Konrads led the Rome final throughout, although Breen stayed with him for the first 1,000 metres. Rose got relatively close near the end for the silver medal, with Breen hanging on for a second consecutive bronze in the event.