Rowing at the 1924 Summer Olympics – Men's eight

This was the sixth appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The men's eight has been held every time that rowing has been contested, beginning in 1900.{{cite web |url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/157710 |title=Eight, Men |work=Olympedia |access-date=21 May 2021}}

Great Britain and the United States were the dominant nations in the event, with the nations winning all five prior Olympic men's eight competitions between them. The United States held a 3–2 edge and the reigning crown. For the first time, Great Britain's top entry was not the Leander Club; instead, the Thames Rowing Club (winners of the Grand Challenge Cup at Henley in 1923) was the British boat in 1924. The Americans were represented by a crew from Yale University. Other contenders included the 1923 European Rowing Championships winners from Italy.

Czechoslovakia, Hungary, and Switzerland entered but withdrew before the competition.

Argentina, Australia, Italy, and Spain each made their debut in the event (though Australian rowers had appeared as part of the Australasia team in 1912). Belgium, Canada, France, Great Britain, and the United States each made their fourth appearance, tied for most among nations to that point.

The "eight" event featured nine-person boats, with eight rowers and a coxswain. It was a sweep rowing event, with the rowers each having one oar (and thus each rowing on one side). The course used the 2000 metres distance that became the Olympic standard in 1912.{{cite web |url=https://worldrowing.com/2017/05/01/why-race-2000m-the-history-behind-the-distance/ |title=Why Do We Race 2000m? The History Behind the Distance |publisher=World Rowing |date=1 May 2017 |access-date=19 April 2021}}

For the first time since 1900, there were more than 2 boats per heat. The tournament also introduced the repechage, allowing boats that did not win a race to have another opportunity to advance. The 1924 competition featured two main rounds (semifinals and a final) and one repechage.

• Semifinals: Three heats of 3 or 4 boats each. The top boat in each heat (3 boats total) advanced directly to the final; the last place boat (3 boats) was eliminated; the middle boats (2nd place in the heats of 3, 2nd and 3rd places in the heat of 4) went to the repechage.
• Repechage: One heat of 4 boats. The winner advanced to the final; the other 3 boats were eliminated.
• Final: One heat of 4 boats. Determined the medals and 4th place.

The top boat in each semifinal advanced to the final, with the second-placed boat (and the third-placed boat, in the semifinal with four boats) going to the repechage. The last placed boat in each semifinal was eliminated.

The top boat advanced to the final, with the other three eliminated.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite Sports-Reference |url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1924/ROW/mens-coxed-eights.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418130649/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1924/ROW/mens-coxed-eights.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Rowing at the 1924 Paris Summer Games: Men's coxed eight |access-date=12 September 2009}}
• {{cite web |last=Wudarski |first=Pawel |year=1999 |url=http://olympic.w.interia.pl/ |title=Wyniki Igrzysk Olimpijskich |language=pl}}

{{Olympic champions – Men's eight}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowing at the 1924 Summer Olympics - Men's eight}}

Category:Rowing at the 1924 Summer Olympics