. ▁He ▁had ▁been ▁be aten ▁by ▁Will ▁Cl aye ▁at ▁the ▁American ▁Olympic ▁Tri als , ▁who ▁was ▁second ▁on ▁the ▁world ▁rank ings ▁and ▁runner - up ▁at ▁the ▁previous ▁Olympics . ▁Cub an ▁Pedro ▁Pablo ▁P ich ardo ▁( the ▁ 2 0 1 5 ▁world ▁silver ▁med all ist ▁and ▁fourth ▁best ▁of ▁all - time ) ▁entered ▁but ▁had ▁not ▁performed ▁highly ▁that ▁year . ▁The ▁ 2 0 1 6 ▁World ▁Ind oor ▁Champion ▁D ong ▁Bin ▁started ▁as ▁the ▁fourth ▁best ▁on ▁the ▁world ▁lists . ▁India ' s ▁Ren j ith ▁Mah es w ary ▁and ▁American ▁Chris ▁Ben ard ▁filled ▁out ▁the ▁world ' s ▁top ▁five ▁of ▁ 2 0 1 6 . ▁The ▁event ▁had ▁enjoyed ▁a ▁res urg ence ▁glob ally ▁and ▁an ▁unus ually ▁large ▁starting ▁field ▁of ▁ 4 8 ▁athlet es ▁had ▁made ▁the ▁qual ifying ▁grade . ▁ ▁The ▁qual ifying ▁round ▁saw ▁perhaps ▁the ▁most ▁significant ▁non - event ▁as ▁# 4 ▁all ▁time ▁Pedro ▁Pablo ▁P ich ardo ▁scratch ed . ▁ ▁European ▁champion ▁and ▁world ▁ind oor ▁silver ▁medal ist ▁Max ▁H ess ▁was ▁also ▁unable ▁to ▁qual ify . ▁ ▁The ▁final ▁was ▁bare ly ▁dram atic . ▁ ▁On ▁the ▁third ▁jump ▁of ▁the ▁competition , ▁D ong ▁Bin ▁jump ed ▁his ▁personal ▁best ▁of ▁ 1 7 . 5 8 ▁m ▁( just ▁ 1   cm ▁less ▁than ▁the ▁Asian ▁contin ental ▁record ) ▁to ▁take ▁the ▁lead . ▁