50 kilometres Race Walk, Men

Norman Read was a native of Britain, having been born in Portsmouth, but growing up in Steyning, Sussex. In 1954 he emigrated to New Zealand but wrote the British AAA, asking if he could represent them at the 1956 Olympics. He was rebuffed. He then requested the same of the New Zealand Olympic Committee, but they were also not interested, preferring the spot to go a native New Zealander. But in September, two months before the Games, he won the Australian championships in 4-30:16.4 over the Olympic course in Melbourne, and the New Zealand Olympic Committee was suddenly interested in him, adding Read to the team at the last moment. The early leader in the race was Yevgeny Maskinskov (URS). Read was second but well back at 30 km. He then put on a steady surge and caught Maskinskov at 42 km, and pulled away decisively.