(*) The record was set in a high altitude venue (more than 1000 metres above sea level) and on naturally frozen ice.
(**) The record was set on naturally frozen ice.
At first Helmut Kuhnert who skated in the first pair set a new Olympic record with 8:04.3 minutes. In the third pair Wim de Graaff bettered the Olympic record with 8:00.2 minutes. Finally Boris Shilkov set a new Olympic record with 7:48.7 minutes on the way to win the fourth heat and the gold medal.