ɪt wʌzðə fˈɜːst tˈaɪm sˈɪns nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ˈeɪt ðætðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts hæd kəmpˈiːɾɪd ænd nˌɑːt wˈʌn ðɪ ᵻvˈɛnt ænd ðə fˈɜːst tˈaɪm sˈɪns nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti sˈɪks ðætðɪ ɐmˈɛɹɪkənz hæd kəmpˈiːɾɪd ænd nˌɑːt tˈeɪkən ˌɛni mˈɛdəl, æz dʒˈɑːn ˈoʊlsən fˈɪnɪʃt fˈoːɹθ ænd dᵻfˈɛndɪŋ tʃˈæmpiən mˈæt bˌaɪoʊndˈaɪ kˈeɪm ɪn fˈɪfθ.
It was the first time since 1968 that the United States had competed and not won the event and the first time since 1956 that the Americans had competed and not taken any medal, as Jon Olsen finished fourth and defending champion Matt Biondi came in fifth.