Twenty-five long jumpers from eleven nations competed.

American Ray Ewry returned as the two-time defending Olympic champion and world record holder; he was heavily favored in this as well as all the standing jumps.

Also returning from the 1904 competition was fellow American and bronze medalist John Biller.

[2] Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, the Netherlands, and Sweden each made their debut in the event.

The United States made its third appearance, the only nation to have competed in all three editions of the standing long jump to that point.