Rowing at the 1984 Summer Olympics – Men's single sculls

This was the 19th 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/158900 |title=Single Sculls, Men |work=Olympedia |access-date=4 May 2021}}

Two of the 14 single scullers from the 1980 Games returned: two-time gold medalist Pertti Karppinen of Finland and eighth-place finisher Konstatinos Kontomanolis of Greece. The 1976 silver medalist Peter-Michael Kolbe of West Germany also returned after an absence in 1980 due to the American-led boycott, as did 1976 sixth-place finisher Ricardo Ibarra of Argentina. The Soviet-led boycott in 1984 had little effect on the favourites for the event. Karppinen was favoured to win a third gold, though Kolbe (1975, 1978, 1981, and 1983 World Champion) and Ibarra (1975, 1979, and 1983 Pan American champion and 1980 Diamond Challenge Sculls winner) were expected to challenge him.

Guatemala and Puerto Rico each made their debut in the event. The United States made its 15th appearance, tying the absent Great Britain for most among nations.

This rowing event was a single scull event, meaning that each boat was propelled by a single rower. The "scull" portion means that the rower used two oars, one on each side of the boat. 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}}

The tournament used the four-round format (three main rounds and a repechage) that had been used since 1968. The competition continued to use the six-boat heat standardised in 1960 as well as the "B" final for ranking 7th through 12th place introduced in 1964.

• Quarterfinals: Three heats of 5 or 6 boats each. The top boat in each heat (3 total) advanced directly to the semifinals. The remaining boats (13 total) went to the repechage.
• Repechage: Three heats of 4 or 5 boats each. The top three boats in each heat (9 total) rejoined the quarterfinal winners in the semifinals. The other boats (4 total) were eliminated.
• Semifinals: Two heats of 6 boats each. The top three boats in each heat (6 total) advanced to Final A, the remaining boats (6 total) went to Final B.
• Final: Two finals. Final A consisted of the top 6 boats. Final B placed boats 7 through 12.

All times are Pacific Daylight Time (UTC-7)

The winner in each heat advanced directly to the semifinals. The remaining rowers competed in the repechage round for the remaining spots in the semifinals.

The three fastest rowers in each repechage heat advanced to the semifinals.

The three fastest rowers in each semifinal advanced to Final A, while the others went to Final B.

Final B was used to determine 7th – 12th places.

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book|title=The Official Report of the Games of the XXIIIrd Olympiad Los Angeles 1984 Volume Two|pages=523–524| url=http://www.la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1984/1984v2pt3.pdf|type=PDF}}

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

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rowing at the 1984 Summer Olympics - Men's single sculls}}

Category:Rowing at the 1984 Summer Olympics

Category:Men's events at the 1984 Summer Olympics