ReigningOlympic championSteven Hooker came into the competition nursing a pulled hamstring incurred 12 days before the championships. Minimizing his effort, he only took one (successful) attempt in qualifying and two attempts in the final. Hooker waited until only three other competitors were left in the field. Hooker agonized in the pit after missing his attempt at 5.85, then watchedRomain Mesnil clear. After one failureRenaud Lavillenie joined Hooker in passing to the next height whileMaksym Mazuryk, who had passed to get to 5.85 exhausted his attempts. Constantly stretching and massaging his hamstring, Hooker successfully cleared 5.90 with room to spare, leaping from nothing to first place. Mesnil and Lavillenie could not answer.