With a much larger field than in 1904, the 1908 competition expanded to three rounds: heats, semifinals, and a final. The 1908 Games also restored the wild-card system from 1900, allowing the fastest swimmers who did not win their heat to advance.
The 1908 competition had an expanded field compared to 1904 and included three stages: preliminary rounds, semi-finals, and a final. The 1908 Games also reinstated the wild-card system from 1900, allowing swimmers who did not win their preliminary round but were among the fastest to advance.