Rowing at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's coxed four
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.
Background
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.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. Ten teams from ten nations attended the competition. On all days, the coxed four were the first races held of the day.
Results
Heats
Three heats were rowed on 23 November. Two of the heats had three teams and one had four teams, with the first two teams to qualify for the semi-final, and the remaining teams progressing to the round one repechage.Heat 1
Heat 2
Heat 3
Repechage
Four boats competed in the one repechage on 24 November in two heats, with the winner qualifying for the semi-final.Heat 1
Heat 2
Semi-finals
Two heats were rowed in the semi-finals on 26 November, with the top two teams qualifying for the final.Heat 1
Heat 2
Final
Four teams reached the final, which was decided in one race held on 27 November. The team from Italy, which had won its heat and semi-final, won the final in an unremarkable race leading from start to finish.| Rank | Rower | Country | Time |
| Alberto Winkler Romano Sgheiz Angelo Vanzin Franco Trincavelli Ivo Stefanoni | 7:19.4 | ||
| Olle Larsson Gösta Eriksson Ivar Aronsson Evert Gunnarsson Bertil Göransson | 7:22.4 | ||
| Kauko Hänninen Reino Poutanen Veli Lehtelä Toimi Pitkänen Matti Niemi | 7:30.9 | ||
| 4 | Gordon Cowey Kevin McMahon Reg Libbis Mick Allen John Jenkinson | 7:31.1 |