Quick Facts Men's coxed four at the Games of the XVI Olympiad, Venue ...

Men's coxed four at the Games of the XVI Olympiad
Rowing pictogram
Venue	Lake Wendouree
Dates	23–27 November
Competitors	50 from 10 nations
Winning time	7:19.4
Medalists
Italy Alberto Winkler Romano Sgheiz Angelo Vanzin Franco Trincavelli Ivo Stefanoni (cox)  Italy  Sweden Olle Larsson Gösta Eriksson Ivar Aronsson Evert Gunnarsson Bertil Göransson (cox)  Finland Kauko Hänninen Reino Poutanen Veli Lehtelä Toimi Pitkänen Matti Niemi (cox)
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The men's coxed four competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Australia. It was held from 23 to 27 November and was won by the team from Italy.^[1] There were 10 boats (50 competitors) from 10 nations, with each nation limited to a single boat in the event.^[2] Italy had previously won this event in 1928, tying Switzerland for second-most wins among nations. Sweden (silver) and Finland (bronze) each won their first medal in the men's coxed four. Switzerland had its three-Games silver-medal streak broken, without a Swiss crew competing.

This was the 10th appearance of the event. Rowing had been on the programme in 1896 but was cancelled due to bad weather. The coxed four was one of the four initial events introduced in 1900. It was not held in 1904 or 1908, but was held at every Games from 1912 to 1992 when it (along with the men's coxed pair) was replaced with the men's lightweight double sculls and men's lightweight coxless four.^[2]

There was no clear favourite for the event. No nation had won the European Rowing Championships since the previous Olympic Games more than once. Only the Soviet Union had won a European Rowing Championship medal twice since 1952. Italy had come third at the 1956 European Rowing Championships.^[1]

No nations made their debut in the event. The United States made its eighth appearance, most among nations to that point. Notable absences included France (previously tied with the United States for most appearances at seven) and Switzerland (which had won gold or silver in each of their six appearances).

The coxed four event featured five-person boats, with four 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 competition used the 2000 metres distance that became standard at the 1912 Olympics and which has been used ever since except at the 1948 Games.^[3]

The competition venue had five lanes, but the organising committee had restricted races to four teams. This allowed for changing wind conditions, where the most affected lane could be left unused.^[4] Ten teams from ten nations attended the competition.^[1] On all days, the coxed four were the first races held of the day.^[5]

The competition featured four rounds (three main rounds and a repechage).

• Quarterfinals: 3 heats, 3 or 4 boats each, top 2 in each heat (6 total) advanced to the semifinals while others (4 boats) went to the repechage.
• Repechage: 2 heats, 2 boats each, top 1 in each heat (2 total) advanced to the semifinals while all others (2 boats) were eliminated.
• Semifinals: 2 heats, 4 boats each, top 2 in each heat (4 total) advanced to the final while all others (4 boats) were eliminated.
• Final: 1 heat, 4 boats, determining medals and 4th place.

All times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (UTC+10)