It was France's first championship in the men's high hurdles, and only the third time the event was won by a hurdler not from the United States.

Willie Davenport took bronze, becoming the seventh man to win a second medal and the first to do so in non-consecutive Games (he had won gold in 1968).

Three finalists from 1972 returned: silver medalist Guy Drut of France, fourth-place finisher Willie Davenport of the United States (also a 1964 semifinalist and the 1968 gold medalist), and fifth-place finisher Frank Siebeck of East Germany.

The United States made its 18th appearance, the only nation to have competed in the 110 metres hurdles in each Games to that point.

The competition continued to use the three-round format used since 1908 (except 1960, which had four rounds) and eight-man semifinals and finals, as well as the "fastest loser" system, used since 1964.