Youngest Summer Olympic Games gold medallist in an individual event (male)

The youngest male Olympic gold medallist in an individual event is Kusuo Kitamura (Japan, b. 9 October 1917), who won the 1500 metres freestyle swimming event aged 14 years 309 days at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games at the Los Angeles Swimming Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, on 13 August 1932.

Kitamura smashed the Olympic Record in the first Semi Final only for his countryman, 18-year-old Shozo Makino, to beat his time in the second Semi Final. However, Kitamura would again break the Olympic record in the Final, beating Makino to the gold medal. Japan dominated the men's swimming at the 1932 Olympics, taking five of the six gold medals on offer and even completing a clean sweep in the 100 metres backstroke.