[1] Approximately forty athletes were expected to compete; the exact number was dependent on how many nations used universality places to enter athletes in addition to the 40 qualifying through time or ranking (1 universality place was used in 2016).

Hansle Parchment of Jamaica won the gold medal, the nation's second consecutive victory in the event.

American Grant Holloway earned silver, placing the United States back on the podium in the event after the nation missed the medals for the first time in Rio 2016 (excluding the boycotted 1980 Games).

His closest competitor on the yearly list was defending champion Omar McLeod from the heats of the Jamaican Olympic Trials.

McLeod tried to appeal to change the team makeup, but which deserving athlete would be left home to make room for him?

Holloway was first out of the blocks, first over the first hurdle and had a clear lead over the closely matched wall of athletes behind him.

By the fourth hurdle, Holloway had close to a metre lead, Ronald Levy then Andrew Pozzi emerged in second and third.

Over the next three hurdles, Parchment made a big move to separate from the others, still a metre down on Holloway.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the period was suspended from 6 April 2020 to 30 November 2020, with the end date extended to 29 June 2021.