Horizontal Bar, Men

This was one of the only two gymnastics events at which the Soviets failed to win a medal in Helsinki, the other being the floor exercise. The gold medal went to Swiss Jack Günthard, who won his only individual Olympic medal, his best finish on the other apparatuses being 13th on parallel bars and pommelled horse. Behind him, Germany’s Alfred Schwarzmann and Switzerland’s Sepp Stalder tied for second and both won silver medals. Stalder was the defending champion from London and had won a bronze in the event at the 1950 World Championships. Schwarzmann had not competed in London, as Germany was not permitted to compete after the War, but he had been in Berlin where he won five medals and three gold medals.