This was the second appearance of the event, which has been held at every Summer Olympics except 1896. John Flanagan was the defending Olympic champion and had won at least 10 national titles across Great Britain, Ireland, and the United States; he was a heavy favorite.
This was the second time the event took place, with the exception of 1896. John Flanagan, who had already won several national titles in various countries, including Great Britain, Ireland, and the United States, was a strong contender to repeat his Olympic success.