Defending champion Arthur Zanetti of Brazil finished second, making him the 13th man to win multiple medals in the event.

Two of the eight finalists from 2012 returned: gold medalist Arthur Zanetti of Brazil and fifth-place finisher Denis Ablyazin of Russia.

The United States made its 22nd appearance, most of any nation; the Americans had missed only the inaugural 1896 rings and the boycotted 1980 Games.

The top 8 qualifiers in the qualification phase (limit two per NOC), based on combined score of each apparatus, advanced to the individual all-around final.

[2] Yuri van Gelder was removed by the Dutch NOC when he returned to Olympic Village under influence of alcohol after a night out.