Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls

This was the eighth appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The single sculls has been held every time that rowing has been contested, beginning in 1900.{{cite web |url=http://www.olympedia.org/results/157882 |title=Single Sculls, Men |work=Olympedia |access-date=26 April 2021}}

Two of the 15 rowers from the 1928 Games returned: gold medalist Bobby Pearce of Australia and fifth-place finisher Joseph Wright Jr. of Canada. American William Miller had earned silver in the coxed four in 1928. Pearce, in addition to his Olympic title, had also won the 1930 British Empire Games and the 1931 Diamond Challenge Sculls; he was favored to repeat. A notable absence was Herbert Buhtz of Germany, the 1932 Diamond Challenge winner, who was will and did not compete in this event (but did compete in the double sculls, earning a silver medal).

Uruguay made its debut in the event. Great Britain made its seventh appearance, most among nations, having missed only the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

This rowing event is a single scull event, meaning that each boat is propelled by a single rower. The "scull" portion means that the rower uses two oars, one on each side of the boat. The competition consists of multiple rounds.

During the first round two semifinal heats were held. The first boat in each heat advanced to the final, while all others were relegated to the repechages.

The repechages were rounds which offered rowers a chance to qualify for the final. The first two boats in the repechage heat advanced to the final.

First boat of each heat qualifies to the final, remainder goes to the repechage.

First two qualify to the final.

{{reflist}}

• [http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1932/1932s.pdf Official Olympic Report]

{{Olympic champions – Men's single sculls}}

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Category:Rowing at the 1932 Summer Olympics