The level of competition was not as high as the previous, festival-associated event, but still featured winning performances from four 1954 European champions: Lajos Szentgáli (800 metres), Anatoliy Yulin (400 metres hurdles), Ödön Földessy (long jump), and Janusz Sidło (javelin throw). Javelin thrower Földessy was the only man to retain his world student title and in the women's section Christa Stubnick repeated her sprint double (the only female repeat victor).