| | Event type
High Jump, Men
| Date | 20 July 1952 |
|---|---|
| Status | Olympic |
| Location | Helsingin Olympiastadion, Helsinki |
| Participants | 36 from 24 countries |
Buddy Davis was the heavy favorite as he had threatened the 7-foot barrier several times in practice. In 1953 he would set the last sub-7 world record with 2.13 = 6-11⅝. In the final he battled teammate Ken Wiesner, both straddlers, and both were perfect thru 2.01 (6-7), but only Davis cleared 2.04 (6-8¼). Bronze medalist José Telles da Conceição also made an Olympic final in 1956 – the 200 metres. Davis later professional basketball for five years in the NBA, backing up Wilt Chamberlain for a year with the Philadelphia Warriors.
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | Qualifying | Final | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1016 | Buddy Davis |  USA | 1.87 (=1) | 2.04 (1) | Gold | ||
| 2 | 1015 | Ken Wiesner | USA | 1.87 (=4) | 2.01 (2) | Silver | ||
| 3 | 58 | José da Conceição |  BRA | 1.87 (=10) | 1.98 (3) | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 696 | Gösta Svensson |  SWE | 1.87 (=1) | 1.98 (4) | |||
| 5 | 203 | Ron Pavitt |  GBR | 1.87 (=10) | 1.95 (5) | |||
| 6 | 659 | Ion Söter |  ROU | 1.87 (=22) | 1.95 (6) | |||
| 7 | 1017 | Arnie Betton | USA | 1.87 (=1) | 1.95 (7) | |||
| 8 | 514 | Bjørn Gundersen |  NOR | 1.87 (=4) | 1.90 (8) | |||
| =9 | 51 | Jacques Delelienne |  BEL | 1.87 (=10) | 1.90 (=9) | |||
| =9 | 501 | Josiah Majekodunmi |  NGR | 1.87 (=4) | 1.90 (=9) | |||
| =11 | 801 | Pekka Halme |  FIN | 1.87 (=10) | 1.90 (=11) | |||
| =11 | 204 | Peter Wells | GBR | 1.87 (=10) | 1.90 (=11) | |||
| =13 | 625 | Georges Damitio |  FRA | 1.87 (20) | 1.90 (=13) | |||
| =13 | 445 | Yury Ilyasov |  URS | 1.87 (24) | 1.90 (=13) | |||
| 15 | 697 | Arne Ljungqvist | SWE | 1.87 (=22) | 1.90 (15) | |||
| 16 | 861 | Hans Wahli |  SUI | 1.87 (=10) | 1.90 (16) | |||
| 17 | 515 | Birger Leirud | NOR | 1.87 (21) | 1.90 (17) | |||
| =18 | 626 | Claude Bénard | FRA | 1.87 (=10) | 1.90 (=18) | |||
| =18 | 502 | Nafiu Osagie | NGR | 1.87 (=4) | 1.90 (=18) | |||
| =20 | 392 | James Owoo |  GHA | 1.87 (=4) | 1.80 (=20) | |||
| =20 | 136 | Maram Sudarmodjo |  INA | 1.87 (26) | 1.80 (=20) | |||
| =20 | 500 | Boniface Guobadia | NGR | 1.87 (9) | 1.80 (=20) | |||
| =20 | 332 | Mihajlo Dimitrijević |  YUG | 1.87 (=10) | 1.80 (=20) | |||
| =24 | 28 | Pat Leane |  AUS | 1.87 (25) | 1.80 (=24) | |||
| =24 | 802 | Albert Koskinen | FIN | 1.87 (=10) | 1.80 (=24) | |||
| =24 | 202 | Alan Paterson | GBR | 1.87 (=10) | 1.80 (=24) | |||
| =24 | 975 | Téofilo Davis |  VEN | 1.87 (27) | 1.80 (=24) | |||
| 28 | 447 | Yevgeny Vansovich | URS | 1.87 (28) | 1.80 (28) | |||
| 29 r1/2 | 72 | Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam |  SRI | 1.84 (29) | – | |||
| 30 r1/2 | 52 | Walter Herssens | BEL | 1.84 (30) | – | |||
| 31 r1/2 | 117 | Andrés Franco |  PHI | 1.84 (31) | – | |||
| =32 r1/2 | 81 | Ernesto Lagos |  CHI | 1.80 (=32) | – | |||
| =32 r1/2 | 966 | Hércules Azcune |  URU | 1.80 (=32) | – | |||
| 34 r1/2 | 142 | Mehnga Singh |  IND | 1.70 (34) | – | |||
| 35 r1/2 | 234 | Arieh Batun-Kleinstub |  ISR | 1.70 (35) | – | |||
| 36 r1/2 | 92 | Emad Shafei |  EGY | 1.70 (36) | – | |||
| 446 | Oleg Mamonov | URS | – ( | – | ||||
| 892 | Kamtorn Sanidwong |  THA | – ( | – |
Qualifying Round
| Date | 20 July 1952 — 10:00 |
|---|---|
| Format | All those clearing 1.87 metres advanced to the final. |
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | Best Height Cleared | Misses at Best Height Cleared | Total Misses thru Best Height Cleared | Total Attempts thru Best Height Cleared | Attempts at 1.60 m | Attempts at 1.70 m | Attempts at 1.80 m | Attempts at 1.84 m | Attempts at 1.87 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 1017 | Arnie Betton | USA | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | o | ||
| =1 | 1016 | Buddy Davis | USA | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | o | ||
| =1 | 696 | Gösta Svensson | SWE | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | - | - | o | ||
| =4 | 514 | Bjørn Gundersen | NOR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | o | - | o | ||
| =4 | 501 | Josiah Majekodunmi | NGR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | o | - | o | ||
| =4 | 502 | Nafiu Osagie | NGR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | o | - | o | ||
| =4 | 392 | James Owoo | GHA | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | o | - | o | ||
| =4 | 1015 | Ken Wiesner | USA | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | - | - | o | o | ||
| 9 | 500 | Boniface Guobadia | NGR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 3 | - | - | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 626 | Claude Bénard | FRA | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 51 | Jacques Delelienne | BEL | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 332 | Mihajlo Dimitrijević | YUG | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 801 | Pekka Halme | FIN | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 802 | Albert Koskinen | FIN | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 202 | Alan Paterson | GBR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 203 | Ron Pavitt | GBR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 58 | José da Conceição | BRA | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 861 | Hans Wahli | SUI | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| =10 | 204 | Peter Wells | GBR | 1.87 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | ||
| 20 | 625 | Georges Damitio | FRA | 1.87 | 0 | 1 | 5 | - | o | o | xo | o | ||
| 21 | 515 | Birger Leirud | NOR | 1.87 | 0 | 2 | 5 | - | - | xo | xo | o | ||
| =22 | 697 | Arne Ljungqvist | SWE | 1.87 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | xo | ||
| =22 | 659 | Ion Söter | ROU | 1.87 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - | - | - | xo | ||
| 24 | 445 | Yury Ilyasov | URS | 1.87 | 1 | 3 | 6 | - | - | xo | xo | xo | ||
| 25 | 28 | Pat Leane | AUS | 1.87 | 1 | 3 | 7 | - | o | xo | xo | xo | ||
| 26 | 136 | Maram Sudarmodjo | INA | 1.87 | 2 | 2 | 5 | - | - | o | o | xxo | ||
| 27 | 975 | Téofilo Davis | VEN | 1.87 | 2 | 2 | 6 | - | o | o | o | xxo | ||
| 28 | 447 | Yevgeny Vansovich | URS | 1.87 | 2 | 4 | 7 | - | - | xo | xo | xxo | ||
| 29 | 72 | Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam | SRI | 1.84 | 0 | 2 | 5 | - | o | xxo | o | xxx | ||
| 30 | 52 | Walter Herssens | BEL | 1.84 | 2 | 2 | 5 | - | o | o | xxo | xxx | ||
| 31 | 117 | Andrés Franco | PHI | 1.84 | 2 | 3 | 6 | - | o | xo | xxo | xxx | ||
| =32 | 81 | Ernesto Lagos | CHI | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | o | o | xxx | – | ||
| =32 | 966 | Hércules Azcune | URU | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | o | o | xxx | – | ||
| 34 | 142 | Mehnga Singh | IND | 1.70 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | o | xxx | – | – | ||
| 35 | 234 | Arieh Batun-Kleinstub | ISR | 1.70 | 0 | 0 | 2 | o | o | xxx | - | – | ||
| 36 | 92 | Emad Shafei | EGY | 1.70 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | xo | xxx | – | – | ||
| 446 | Oleg Mamonov | URS | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | |||
| 892 | Kamtorn Sanidwong | THA | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
Final Round
| Date | 20 July 1952 — 15:00 |
|---|
| Pos | Start Order | Competitor | NOC | Best Height Cleared | Misses at Best Height Cleared | Total Misses thru Best Height Cleared | Total Attempts thru Best Height Cleared | Attempts at 1.70 m | Attempts at 1.80 m | Attempts at 1.90 m | Attempts at 1.95 m | Attempts at 1.98 m | Attempts at 2.01 m | Attempts at 2.04 m | Attempts at 2.07 m | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1016 | Buddy Davis | USA | 2.04 | 1 | 1 | 7 | - | o | o | o | o | o | xo | xxx | ||
| 2 | 1015 | Ken Wiesner | USA | 2.01 | 0 | 0 | 5 | - | o | o | o | o | o | xxx | – | ||
| 3 | 58 | José da Conceição | BRA | 1.98 | 0 | 0 | 4 | - | o | o | o | o | xxx | – | – | ||
| 4 | 696 | Gösta Svensson | SWE | 1.98 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - | - | o | - | xxo | xxx | – | – | ||
| 5 | 203 | Ron Pavitt | GBR | 1.95 | 0 | 0 | 4 | o | o | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | ||
| 6 | 659 | Ion Söter | ROU | 1.95 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | - | o | xo | xxx | – | – | – | ||
| 7 | 1017 | Arnie Betton | USA | 1.95 | 1 | 1 | 4 | - | o | o | xo | xxx | – | – | – | ||
| 8 | 514 | Bjørn Gundersen | NOR | 1.90 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | - | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =9 | 51 | Jacques Delelienne | BEL | 1.90 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =9 | 501 | Josiah Majekodunmi | NGR | 1.90 | 0 | 0 | 2 | - | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =11 | 801 | Pekka Halme | FIN | 1.90 | 0 | 0 | 3 | o | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =11 | 204 | Peter Wells | GBR | 1.90 | 0 | 0 | 3 | o | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =13 | 625 | Georges Damitio | FRA | 1.90 | 0 | 1 | 3 | - | xo | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =13 | 445 | Yury Ilyasov | URS | 1.90 | 0 | 1 | 3 | - | xo | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| 15 | 697 | Arne Ljungqvist | SWE | 1.90 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | - | xo | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| 16 | 861 | Hans Wahli | SUI | 1.90 | 1 | 1 | 3 | - | o | xo | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| 17 | 515 | Birger Leirud | NOR | 1.90 | 2 | 2 | 3 | - | - | xxo | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =18 | 626 | Claude Bénard | FRA | 1.90 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - | o | xxo | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =18 | 502 | Nafiu Osagie | NGR | 1.90 | 2 | 2 | 4 | - | o | xxo | xxx | – | – | – | – | ||
| =20 | 332 | Mihajlo Dimitrijević | YUG | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =20 | 500 | Boniface Guobadia | NGR | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =20 | 392 | James Owoo | GHA | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =20 | 136 | Maram Sudarmodjo | INA | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 1 | - | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =24 | 975 | Téofilo Davis | VEN | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =24 | 802 | Albert Koskinen | FIN | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =24 | 28 | Pat Leane | AUS | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| =24 | 202 | Alan Paterson | GBR | 1.80 | 0 | 0 | 2 | o | o | xxx | – | – | – | – | – | ||
| 28 | 447 | Yevgeny Vansovich | URS | 1.80 | 1 | 1 | 2 | - | xo | xxx | – | – | – | – | – |