ɹˈeɪnɪŋ wˈɜːld tʃˈæmpiən ænd wˈɜːld ɹˈɛkɚd hˈoʊldɚ dʒɪˈoːɹdʒɪˌoʊ lˈæmbɚɾi ʌv ˈɪɾəli kəmpˈiːɾɪd ɪnðə fˈoːɹ tˈaɪmz tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd mˈiːɾɚ fɹˈiːstaɪl ɹˈiːleɪ bˌʌt nˌɑːt ðɪs ᵻvˈɛnt ˈæftɚɹ ɐ bˈaʊt ʌv flˈuː æt ðɪ ɪtˈæliən tɹˈaɪəlz kˈɛpt hˌɪm fɹʌm kwˈɔlᵻfˌaɪɪŋ.
Reigning World Champion and world record holder Giorgio Lamberti of Italy competed in the 4 × 200 metre freestyle relay but not this event after a bout of flu at the Italian trials kept him from qualifying.