Defending champion and Olympic champion Steven Hooker came into the meet injured. He was not able to clear his opening height in the trials.
In the final, with three competitors already over 5.85 (including countryman Łukasz Michalski), Paweł Wojciechowski strategically passed his remaining attempts. At 5.90, he cleared on his second (and last remaining) attempt for the win. Lázaro Borges also cleared 5.90, but on his third attempt, setting the national record for Cuba in the process. Renaud Lavillenie edged Michalski for the bronze, because Michalski had a miss at 5.75.