Two of the top 10 gymnasts from the pre-war 1936 Games returned: fifth-place finisher Michael Reusch of Switzerland and ninth-place finisher Heikki Savolainen of Finland. Savolainen had also finished in the top 10 in 1928 and won a bronze medal in the event in 1932. Reigning gold medalist Alfred Schwarzmann was unable to defend his title due to Germany not being invited to the Games following World War II, though he would return in 1952. The last World Championships had been held in 1938, with no international competitions since the war, so it was difficult to determine a favorite.
