The event was won by William Steinkraus of the United States, the nation's first medal in individual jumping.

Marion Coakes of Great Britain was the first female rider to win a medal in individual jumping, taking silver.

The reigning World Champion, who had also earned Olympic bronze in 1960, was David Broome of Great Britain.

France competed for the 12th time, most of any nation, having missed the individual jumping only in 1932.

[3] Broome's horse Mr. Softee would later appear in the Monty Python's Flying Circus episode "Archaeology Today" "Trailer sketch" in 1970, though Anneli Drummond-Hay was riding the horse rather than Broome.

All four of the riders in the jump-off completed the course cleanly, so time was the deciding factor.