South Africa also won its first men's long jump medal, with Khotso Mokoena's silver.

This event marked the first time that an American did not classify to the final phase in a non-boycotted Olympic competition.

The reigning world champion, Irving Saladino of Panama, was the favorite in Beijing.

NOCs were also permitted to enter one athlete providing he had met the B standard in the same qualifying period.

The qualifying round gave each competitor three jumps to achieve a distance of 8.15 metres; if fewer than 12 men did so, the top 12 (including all those tied) would advance.