The men's pole vault event at the 2020 Summer Olympics took place between 31 July and 3 August 2021 at the Japan National Stadium.

[2] Armand Duplantis of Sweden won gold, with Christopher Nilsen of the United States earning silver and Thiago Braz of Brazil taking bronze.

It was Sweden's first victory in the event and first medal of any color in the men's pole vault since 1952.

Braz, who had won in 2016, became the ninth man to earn multiple medals in the pole vault.

All of the 2016 podium returned to Tokyo; Thiago Braz da Silva, Renaud Lavillenie, and Sam Kendricks.

[4] Silver medalist Nielsen was full of praise for the winner, Armand Duplantis.

He compared the competition against Duplantis that evening as being a regular footballer "trying to emulate Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo" and that his superiority over the world's best pole vaulters was "impressive and ridiculous".

2016 bronze medalist and 2017 and 2019 world champion Sam Kendricks of the United States qualified but had to withdraw due to a positive COVID-19 test.

The United States made its 28th appearance, most of any nation, having missed only the boycotted 1980 Games.

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.

The qualifying time standards could be obtained in various meets during the given period that have the approval of the IAAF.