The men's 800 metres race was the second-longest of the four flat-track events on the Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics

Athletics at the 1896 Summer Olympics

At the 1896 Summer Olympics, twelve athletics events were contested. All of the events except the marathon were held in the Panathinaiko Stadium, which was also the finish for the marathon. Events were held on 6 April, 7 April, 9 April, and 10 April 1896 . 64 athletes, all men, from ten nations...

programme. The preliminary heats were the third event held on 6 April. The nine competitors were split into two groups. The top two athletes in each heat advanced to the final, which was held on 9 April.

Heats

The two heats of the preliminary round were held on 6 April. The top two runners in each heat advanced.

Heat 1

Place	Athlete	Time
1		2:10.0
2		2:10.2
3		2:13.4
4		Unknown

Flack beat Dáni by four feet with the others far behind; his time of 2:10.0 was the inaugural Olympic record.

Heat 2

Place	Athlete	Time
1		2:16.6
2		2:16.8
3		Unknown
4		Unknown
5		Unknown

Lermusiaux beat Golemis by 1¼ yards.

Final

Place	Athlete	Time
1		2:11.0
2		2:11.8
3		2:28.0
–		DNS

The final consisted of only three runners, as Lermusiaux elected not to compete to save himself for the marathon. Flack won by five meters, and Dáni finished 95 yards ahead of Golmeis.