American Dave Roberts, who also cleared 5.50 m on his first try but had one miss from an earlier height, took the bronze medal.

Roberts's bronze was the worst result yet for the Americans, who had won the first 16 editions of the event and taken silver at the 17th in 1972.

The favorites were David Roberts (the world record holder) and Earl Bell of the United States and Władysław Kozakiewicz of Poland.

The United States made its 18th appearance, the only nation to have competed at every Olympic men's pole vault to that point.

The three medalists (Tadeusz Ślusarski, Antti Kalliomäki, and David Roberts) all matched the Olympic record at 5.50 metres; none were able to break it.