The 1956 Summer Olympics, officially the Games of the XVI Olympiad and officially branded as Melbourne 1956, were an international multi-sport event held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, from 22 November to 8 December 1956, with the exception of the equestrian events, which were held in Stockholm, Sweden, in June 1956.
The men's field hockey tournament at the 1956 Summer Olympics was the eighth edition of the field hockey event for men at the Summer Olympics. It was contested from 23 November to 6 December, with twelve participating teams. Only men competed in field hockey at these Games.
Edward Russell Mockridge was a racing cyclist from Geelong, Victoria, Australia. He died during a race, in collision with a bus.
France competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden. 137 competitors, 119 men and 18 women, took part in 95 events in 15 sports.
John Malcolm Henricks is an Australian Olympic swimmer who won two gold medals at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. Henricks set world records in two freestyle events.
Brazil competed at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and Stockholm, Sweden. 44 competitors, 43 men and one woman took part in 28 events in 11 sports. The only Brazilian medal was the gold won by Adhemar Ferreira da Silva in men's triple jump. This was his second gold medal in the event. He was the first Brazilian to be a two-time Olympic champion.
Jean Graczyk was a French road bicycle racer who won two points classifications in the Tour de France and several stages each at the Tour de France and Vuelta a España. Before turning professional, Graczyk won an Olympic silver medal in the team pursuit for France.
Arnaud Geyre was a racing cyclist from France who represented his native country at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. There he won the gold medal in the men's team road race, alongside Michel Vermeulin and Maurice Moucheraud, and the silver in the men's individual road race. Geyre was a professional from 1958 to 1963.
Dino Bruni is an Italian road racing cyclist who won the silver medal in the men's team road race at the 1952 Summer Olympics, alongside Vincenzo Zucconelli and Gianni Ghidini. Italy's fourth rider Bruno Monti also crossed the line, but did not receive a medal because just the first three counted for the final classification. Bruni also represented his native country at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia. After his amateur career, he was a professional rider from 1956 to 1965. He won three stages in the Tour de France, and two stages in the Giro d'Italia.
Maurice Moucheraud was a road racing cyclist from France, who won the gold medal in the men's team road race at the 1956 Summer Olympics, alongside Arnaud Geyre and Michel Vermeulin. He was a professional rider from 1957 to 1962.
Michael Arthur Rawson was an English track and field athlete.
Jack Bobridge is an Australian former professional racing cyclist, who rode professionally between 2010 and 2016.
Donald John Arnold was a Canadian competition rower and Olympic champion. He was born in Kelowna, British Columbia.
Leandro Faggin was an Italian racing cyclist, Olympic champion and world champion in track cycling.
Paul Chocque was a French professional road bicycle racer. He won a silver medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics in team pursuit event.
Arthur Stanley "Stan" Brittain was an English racing cyclist who rode time-trials, road races and the track. He won a silver medal at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic games, came third in the 1955 Peace Race and finished the 1958 Tour de France.
Valentino Gasparella is a retired Italian track cyclist. He won a gold medal in the team pursuit at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne. In the 1000 m sprint he won the world title in 1958 and 1959, and two bronze medals: at the 1957 World Championships and 1960 Summer Olympics.
Michel Guy Rousseau was a French amateur track cyclist. He won gold medals in the individual sprint at the 1956 Summer Olympics and 1956–1958 world championships, finishing second in 1959 and 1961.
Alfred James Swift was a South African Olympic athlete and cyclist.
The men's coxed four competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics took place at Lake Wendouree, Ballarat, Australia. It was held from 23 to 27 November and was won by the team from Italy. There were 10 boats from 10 nations, with each nation limited to a single boat in the event. Italy had previously won this event in 1928, tying Switzerland for second-most wins among nations. Sweden (silver) and Finland (bronze) each won their first medal in the men's coxed four. Switzerland had its three-Games silver-medal streak broken, without a Swiss crew competing.
