The jury for the swimming events met and determined that a third heat should be held under special rules. If the winner of the extra heat were to beat the time set by the third-place swimmer of the first heat (1:06.2, a stiff pace but one which all three Americans had beat during the quarterfinals), he and the second-place finisher would advance.
The swimming event judges gathered and decided to add an extra heat under special circumstances. If the winner of this additional heat could beat the time set by the third-place finisher in the first heat (1:06.2, a challenging pace that all three Americans had exceeded during the quarterfinals), both he and the second-place finisher would qualify.