There were four heats, with five swimmers in each heat. Scoring used a fairly strange system—swimmers were seeded into the heats, then received a number of points depending on what place they received in which heat. The five swimmers in the first heat were given between 1 and 5 points, with the winner receiving 1 and points increasing with place. The swimmers in the second heat received between 6 and 10 points, and so on. The scores of the five swimmers on a team were summed, and the team with the fewest points won. This gave a strong advantage to the German team, which had three swimmers in the first heat, and an equally strong disadvantage to the Parisian team, with three swimmers in the fourth heat.If points are given by best time regardless of heat, the Pupilles de Neptune and the Tritons switch places, though the Germans still win and the Parisian team still takes fourth.
Did not start: The following two swimmers did not compete and thus earned 20 points for their teams:Herbert von Petersdorff, Deutscher Schwimm-Verband BerlinHouben, Pupilles de Neptune de LilleTeam scores
Germany
GER
FRA