[2] The event was won by Edward Cook and Alfred Carlton Gilbert of the United States, the nation's fourth consecutive victory in the men's pole vault.

Alfred Carlton Gilbert was the top American competing, having tied for first at the IC4A meet and won the Eastern U.S. Olympic trial.

Bruno Söderström of Sweden (1907 AAA champion) and Edward Archibald of Canada (British title holder) were threats to American hegemony in the event.

The United States made its fourth appearance, the only nation to have competed at every Olympic men's pole vault to that point.

* unofficial Both Edward Cook and Alfred Carlton Gilbert set a new Olympic record with 3.71 metres.