Middleweight, Freestyle (≤79 kg), Men

No international freestyle events had been contested since the 1924 Olympics, so it was difficult to choose a favorite. Of the nine entrants, only two had competed at the Olympics previously – Canada’s Donald Stockton, and Finland’s Vilho Pekkala, who had won a bronze medal in this class in 1924.

However, the gold medal went to Switzerland’s Ernst Kyburz, who defeated American Ralph Hammonds by fall in the final match. For unknown reasons, Hammonds withdrew from the second-place tournament, which was won by Stockton for the silver medal. Britain’s Sam Rabin won the third-place tournament in a walkover, as all possible opponents withdrew. Rabin wrestled in one match, losing in the second round to Stockton, and came home from Amsterdam with a bronze medal. Of the nine competitors in the class, only Stockton ever competed at the Olympics again. Kyburz never made it back to the Olympics, but did win the 1931 European Championship.