Outside of the two top high jumpers, Antonietta Di Martino and Ruth Beitia had also performed well that season and 2004 Olympic gold medallist Yelena Slesarenko was another strong contender.
[1] Vlašić had an unexpected setback before the qualifiers, suffering a deep gash in her head after hitting a doorway, but after receiving stitches she arrived at the stadium in time for the competition.
[4] Performing before a sold-out stadium, Di Martino and Beitia finished their competition with a best of 1.99 m, leaving Vlašić, Friedrich and Chicherova to compete for the medals.
[4][5] Vlašić, who became the first to win consecutive world titles in the event since Hestrie Cloete,[6] said that she was surprised that 2.04 m had been enough for the gold medal and she expected to go much higher.
Second-placed Chicherova said neither she, nor athletics commentators, had expected her to win the silver medal, but she had overcome prior injury concerns.