The event was won by Charles Austin of the United States, the nation's first victory in the men's high jump since 1968 and 13th overall.

Artur Partyka of Poland became the seventh man to win two medals in the event, following his 1992 bronze with silver in these Games.

Steve Smith's bronze was Great Britain's first medal in the men's high jump since 1908.

The returning finalists from the 1992 Games were gold medalist Javier Sotomayor of Cuba, bronze medalists Artur Partyka of Poland and Tim Forsyth of Australia, seventh-place finisher Troy Kemp of the Bahamas, eighth-place finishers Charles Austin of the United States and Dragutin Topić of Yugoslavia (an Independent Olympic Participant in 1992), and twelfth-place finisher Steve Smith of Great Britain.

Sotomayor had broken his own world record in 1993, jumping 2.45 metres for a mark that is still standing as of 2023; however, he was suffering from an ankle injury in Atlanta.