Matt Hemingway took silver, returning the United States to the podium after a one-Games absence.

Holm was favored; he had placed second at the 2003 world championship (the winner, Jacques Freitag, was present in Athens but injured) and "had won 17 consecutive meets leading up to Athina.

"[3] Cyprus, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovenia, and Sri Lanka each made their debut in the event.

The United States made its 24th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games.

Cleared heights reset for the final, which followed the same format until all athletes fail three consecutive jumps.