12 athletics events to have been held at every Summer Olympics. None of the finalists from 1948 returned. Harrison Dillard of the United States was again a favorite to start the year. In 1948, he had fallen at the U.S. Olympic trials and failed to qualify in the event (though he did qualify in the 100 metres flat—eventually winning the gold medal in that event in London). His primary competition, world record holder Dick Attlesey, was injured and did not make it through the U.S. trials. Arthur Barnard and Jack Davis, however, completed an American team that once again was deep and expected to make a run for a podium sweep. Cuba, Egypt, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Soviet Union, and Venezuela each made their first appearance in the event. The United States made its 12th appearance, the only nation to have competed in the 110 metres hurdles in each Games to that point. Competition format The competition used the basic three-round format introduced in 1908. The first round consisted of six heats, with 5 or 6 hurdlers each (before withdrawals; heat 5, for example, had only three starters). The top two hurdlers in each heat advanced to the semifinals. The 12 semifinalists were divided into two semifinals of 6 hurdlers each; the top three hurdlers in each advanced to the 6-man final. Records These were the standing world and Olympic records (in seconds) prior to the 1952 Summer Olympics. Harrison Dillard matched the Olympic record in the first heat, then broke it in the final. He and Jack Davis were both officially clocked at 13.7 seconds. Schedule All times are Eastern European Summer Time (UTC+3) Results Round 1 The first round was held on July 23. The two fastest runners from each heat qualified to the semifinals. Heat 1 Heat 2 Heat 3 Heat 4 Heat 5 Heat 6 Semifinals The semifinals were held on July 24. The three fastest runners advanced to the final. Semifinal 1 Heat 2 Final References Athletics at the 1952 Summer Olympics Sprint hurdles at the Olympics Men's events at the 1952 Summer Olympics