[1] The event was won by Balázs Kiss of Hungary, the nation's first victory in the men's hammer throw since 1968 and fourth overall (third-most behind the United States's seven and the Soviet Union's six).

Oleksandr Krykun's bronze gave Ukraine a medal in its debut as an independent nation.

[2] Belarus, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan (the latter three having formerly competed as part of the Soviet Union and Unified Team) each made their debut in the event.

The competition used the two-round format introduced in 1936, with the qualifying round completely separate from the divided final.

So Deal advanced, and on his sixth and final throw, won the silver medal behind Balázs Kiss.