[2] The event was won by Andrey Silnov of Russia, the nation's second victory (after 2000) in the men's high jump.

Germaine Mason's silver was Great Britain's first medal in the event since 1996, and matched the nation's best-ever result.

Silnov's countryman Yaroslav Rybakov won bronze, marking the first time since 1988 that a nation had two medalists in the men's high jump in the same Games.

Reigning world champion Donald Thomas, who cleared 2.32 metres at Osaka 2007, finished in twenty-first place and failed to advance into the final round.

[4] In 2023, Silnov was seen awarding athletes at a Russian domestic competition for which the World Anti-Doping Agency extended his ban for a further year.

[6] Each National Olympic Committee (NOC) was able to enter up to three entrants providing they had met the A standard in the qualifying period (1 January 2007 to 23 July 2008).