[2] The event was won by Ivan Ukhov of Russia, the nation's second consecutive and third overall victory in the men's high jump.

On February 1, 2019, Ukhov was stripped of the gold medal by the Court of Arbitration in Sport for doping offenses.

[3] Erik Kynard's silver returned the United States to the men's high jump podium after a one-Games absence.

Because there were two pits going on at the same time, they continued to 2.29 and half the field missed, two heights below the auto-qualifier.

Derek Drouin, Robert Grabarz and Mutaz Essa Barshim were clean through 2.29 and were in a three-way tie for first place.

As time clicked down, he pinned his number to a T-shirt and quickly took his jump at that height.

Kynard again passed to 2.40 to try to win but he missed, keeping the silver, and Ukhov took the gold.

On 1 February 2019, it was announced on that all of Ivan Ukhov's results from 16 July 2012 to 31 December 2015 were being disqualified for doping.

Jesse Williams of the United States was the reigning world champion, but had struggled at the U.S. trials.

The United States made its 26th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games.