Quick Facts Men's single sculls at the Games of the V Olympiad, Venue ...

Men's single sculls at the Games of the V Olympiad
A race during the competition
Venue	Djurgårdsbrunnsviken
Dates	17–19 July
Competitors	13 from 11 nations
Winning time	7:47.3
Medalists
Wally Kinnear  Great Britain Polydore Veirman  Belgium Everard Butler  Canada Mart Kuusik  Russian Empire
← 1908 1920 →

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The men's single sculls was a rowing event held as part of the Rowing at the 1912 Summer Olympics programme. It was the fourth appearance of the event.^[1] The competition was held from 17 to 19 July at Djurgårdsbrunnsviken. There were 13 competitors from 11 nations.^[2] Each nation could have up to two boats. The event was won by Wally Kinnear of Great Britain, the nation's second consecutive victory in the men's single sculls. The other three medal-winning nations were new to the podium in the event. Kinnear beat Everard Butler of Canada in the semifinals, while Belgium's Polydore Veirman prevailed over Mart Kuusik of the Russian Empire; Butler and Kuusik received bronze medals. Veirman earned silver after falling to Kinnear in the final.

This was the fourth 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.^[2]

The two favorites in the event were likely Wally Kinnear of Great Britain (the Diamond Challenge Sculls winner in 1910 and 1911) and Polydore Veirman of Belgium, who would win the European championship later in 1912. Another strong contender was Everard Butler of Canada, the top North American sculler and winner of the National Association of Amateur Oarsmen events in 1911 and 1912.^[2]

Australasia, Austria, Bohemia, Denmark, Finland, and the Russian Empire each made their debut in the event. Great Britain made its third appearance, most among nations, having missed only the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

As in 1908, the 1912 tournament featured four rounds of one-on-one races. Semifinal losers each received bronze medals. For the first time, the Olympic course used the now-standard distance of 2000 metres.^[3]