[3] The event was won by Alma Richards of the United States, the nation's fifth consecutive victory in the men's high jump.

Returning jumpers from the 1908 Games were silver medalist Géo André of France and Otto Monsen of Norway, who had refused to participate in a re-jump after a successful protest and therefore had no mark in 1908.

The Americans were favored, with recent world record breaker George Horine atop a strong (and, as allowed at the time, large) team.

Jim Thorpe was among the Americans; he won the pentathlon (which did not include a high jump) on the same day as the qualifying round and the decathlon (which did) a week later.

The United States appeared for the fifth time, having competed at each edition of the Olympic men's high jump to that point.