| | Event type

Lightweight, Freestyle (≤67 kg), Men

Date	20 – 23 July 1952
Status	Olympic
Location	Messuhalli I, Helsinki / Messuhalli II, Helsinki
Participants	23 from 23 countries
Format	Win by fall = 0 points; win by decision = 1 point; loss of any type = 3 points. Three judges gave decisions, thus all decisions were either 2-1 or 3-0. Five bad points eliminated a wrestler. When only three wrestlers remained, if they had not yet met one another, they wrestled further rounds. Medal placements were determined by the match record among the medalists, with bad points as a tie breaker. A wrestler in the medal rounds could continue with 5 or more bad points.

Sweden’s Olle Anderberg was favored, having won the 1951 World Championships at this weight, the 1949 European title as a featherweight, and by 1952 he was also a three-time World Champion in Greco-Roman. He and American Tommy Evans were the dominant wrestlers in this class, both undefeated through six rounds, and they were joined in the final by Iranian Tofigh Jahanbakht. Both recorded unanimous decisions over Jahanbakht in the final round, but the gold medal was decided in a closely fought match in which Anderberg won over Evans by a split decision. Anderberg would win a silver medal at the 1954 Worlds, and compete at Melbourne in 1956, but he failed to medal at the latter tournament. Evans was NCAA Champion in 1952 and would repeat in 1954, also winning the AAU title that year. He also competed at the 1956 Olympics, both in freestyle and Greco-Roman, but without making the podium. Jahanbakht would win the 1954 World Championship in this class.

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Medalists Match Record / Round Eliminated	Bad Points
1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	2-0	–	Gold
2	346	Tommy Evans	USA	1-1	–	Silver
3	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	0-2	–	Bronze
4	131	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	–	–
5	242	Risto Talosela	FIN	–	–
=6	234	Heini Nettesheim	GER	–	–
=6	96	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	–	–
AC	16	Jan Cools	BEL	eliminated r4/8	7
AC	37	Blondie Pienaar	RSA	eliminated r4/8	7
AC	286	Tevfik Yüce	TUR	eliminated r3/8	4
AC	8	Dick Garrard	AUS	eliminated r3/8	5
AC	311	József Gál	HUN	eliminated r3/8	5
AC	3	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG	eliminated r3/8	6
AC	–	Paul Besson	SUI	eliminated r3/8	6
AC	271	Erik Østrand	DEN	eliminated r3/8	7
AC	77	Garibaldo Nizzola	ITA	withdrew r3/8	4
AC	27	Abdel Aziz Badr	EGY	eliminated r2/8	6
AC	67	Ray Myland	GBR	eliminated r2/8	6
AC	45	Aristides Pérez	GUA	eliminated r2/8	6
AC	60	Jack Vard	IRL	eliminated r2/8	6
AC	105	Oh Tae-Geun	KOR	eliminated r2/8	6
AC	121	Mario Tovar	MEX	eliminated r2/8	6
AC	155	Bjørn Larsson	NOR	eliminated r2/8	6
DNS	28	Kamal Bilaba'	EGY	–	–
DNS	258	Sulo Leppänen	FIN	–	–
DNS	173	F. Lacotte	FRA	–	–
DNS	68	Dave Ickringill	GBR	–	–
DNS	313	Ferenc Tóth	HUN	–	–
DNS	312	Gábor Tóth	HUN	–	–
DNS	55	A. Modjtabavi	IRI	–	–
DNS	202	Henry Holmberg	SWE	–	–
DNS	204	L. H. Schüberg	SWE	–	–
DNS	287	Raif Akbulut	TUR	–	–
DNS	285	N. Zafer	TUR	–	–
DNS	130	V. Iluridze	URS	–	–
DNS	347	John Fletcher, III	USA	–	–

Round One

Date	20 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points
=1	3	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG	0
=1	242	Risto Talosela	FIN	0
=1	234	Heini Nettesheim	GER	0
=1	37	Blondie Pienaar	RSA	0
=1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	0
=6	8	Dick Garrard	AUS	1
=6	16	Jan Cools	BEL	1
=6	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	1
=6	77	Garibaldo Nizzola	ITA	1
=6	96	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	1
=6	286	Tevfik Yüce	TUR	1
=6	346	Tommy Evans	USA	1
=13	271	Erik Østrand	DEN	3
=13	27	Abdel Aziz Badr	EGY	3
=13	67	Ray Myland	GBR	3
=13	45	Aristides Pérez	GUA	3
=13	311	József Gál	HUN	3
=13	60	Jack Vard	IRL	3
=13	105	Oh Tae-Geun	KOR	3
=13	121	Mario Tovar	MEX	3
=13	155	Bjørn Larsson	NOR	3
=13	–	Paul Besson	SUI	3
=13	131	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	3

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	20 Jul	Tevfik Yüce	TUR	Decision (3-0)	Ray Myland	GBR
Match #2	20 Jul	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	Decision (3-0)	József Gál	HUN
Match #3	20 Jul	Heini Nettesheim	GER	Fall (4:16)	Oh Tae-Geun	KOR
Match #4	20 Jul	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG	Fall (1:50)	Aristides Pérez	GUA
Match #5	20 Jul	Dick Garrard	AUS	Decision (3-0)	Jack Vard	IRL
Match #6	20 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA	Decision (3-0)	Abdel Aziz Badr	EGY
Match #7	20 Jul	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	Decision (3-0)	Bjørn Larsson	NOR
Match #8	20 Jul	Jan Cools	BEL	Decision (3-0)	Mario Tovar	MEX
Match #9	20 Jul	Garibaldo Nizzola	ITA	Decision (3-0)	Erik Østrand	DEN
Match #10	20 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE	Fall (14:06)	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS
Match #11	20 Jul	Risto Talosela	FIN	Fall (13:10)	Paul Besson	SUI
Match #12	20 Jul	Blondie Pienaar	RSA

Round Two

Date	21 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points	Event Status
1	234	Heini Nettesheim	GER	0	–
=2	16	Jan Cools	BEL	1	–
=2	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	1	–
=2	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	1	–
=2	346	Tommy Evans	USA	1	–
=6	8	Dick Garrard	AUS	2	–
=6	96	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	2	–
=6	286	Tevfik Yüce	TUR	2	–
=9	3	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG	3	–
=9	242	Risto Talosela	FIN	3	–
=9	37	Blondie Pienaar	RSA	3	–
=9	–	Paul Besson	SUI	3	–
=9	131	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	3	–
=14	271	Erik Østrand	DEN	4	–
=14	311	József Gál	HUN	4	–
=14	77	Garibaldo Nizzola	ITA	4	withdrew
=17	27	Abdel Aziz Badr	EGY	6	eliminated
=17	67	Ray Myland	GBR	6	eliminated
=17	45	Aristides Pérez	GUA	6	eliminated
=17	60	Jack Vard	IRL	6	eliminated
=17	105	Oh Tae-Geun	KOR	6	eliminated
=17	121	Mario Tovar	MEX	6	eliminated
=17	155	Bjørn Larsson	NOR	6	eliminated

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	21 Jul	Tevfik Yüce	TUR	Decision (3-0)	Blondie Pienaar	RSA
Match #2	21 Jul	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	Fall (8:45)	Ray Myland	GBR
Match #3	21 Jul	József Gál	HUN	Decision (3-0)	Oh Tae-Geun	KOR
Match #4	21 Jul	Heini Nettesheim	GER	Fall (1:42)	Aristides Pérez	GUA
Match #5	21 Jul	Dick Garrard	AUS	Decision (3-0)	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG
Match #6	21 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA	Fall (7:29)	Jack Vard	IRL
Match #7	21 Jul	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	Decision (3-0)	Abdel Aziz Badr	EGY
Match #8	21 Jul	Jan Cools	BEL	Fall (10:30)	Bjørn Larsson	NOR
Match #9	21 Jul	Erik Østrand	DEN	Decision (3-0)	Mario Tovar	MEX
Match #10	21 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE	Decision (3-0)	Garibaldo Nizzola	ITA
Match #11	21 Jul	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	Fall (13:10)	Risto Talosela	FIN
Match #12	21 Jul	Paul Besson	SUI

Round Three

Date	22 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points	Event Status
1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	1	–
=2	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	2	–
=2	346	Tommy Evans	USA	2	–
=4	234	Heini Nettesheim	GER	3	–
=4	242	Risto Talosela	FIN	3	–
=4	96	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	3	–
=7	16	Jan Cools	BEL	4	–
=7	37	Blondie Pienaar	RSA	4	–
=7	131	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	4	–
=10	286	Tevfik Yüce	TUR	5	eliminated
=10	8	Dick Garrard	AUS	5	eliminated
=10	311	József Gál	HUN	5	eliminated
=13	3	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG	6	eliminated
=13	–	Paul Besson	SUI	6	eliminated
15	271	Erik Østrand	DEN	7	eliminated

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	22 Jul	Blondie Pienaar	RSA	Decision (3-0)	Paul Besson	SUI
Match #2	22 Jul	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	Decision (2-1)	Tevfik Yüce	TUR
Match #3	22 Jul	József Gál	HUN	Decision (2-1)	Heini Nettesheim	GER
Match #4	22 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA	Decision (3-0)	Osvaldo Blasi	ARG
Match #5	22 Jul	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	Decision (3-0)	Dick Garrard	AUS
Match #6	22 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE	Fall (7:17)	Jan Cools	BEL
Match #7	22 Jul	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	Decision (3-0)	Erik Østrand	DEN
Match #8	22 Jul	Risto Talosela	FIN

Round Four

Date	22 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points	Event Status
1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	1	–
2	346	Tommy Evans	USA	2	–
3	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	3	–
=4	242	Risto Talosela	FIN	4	–
=4	131	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	4	–
=6	234	Heini Nettesheim	GER	6	eliminated
=6	96	Takeo Shimotori	JPN	6	eliminated
=8	16	Jan Cools	BEL	7	eliminated
=8	37	Blondie Pienaar	RSA	7	eliminated

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	22 Jul	Risto Talosela	FIN	Decision (3-0)	Blondie Pienaar	RSA
Match #2	22 Jul	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	Decision (2-1)	Heini Nettesheim	GER
Match #3	22 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA	Fall (9:25)	Jan Cools	BEL
Match #4	22 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE	Fall (9:15)	Takeo Shimotori	JPN
Match #5	22 Jul	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS

Round Five

Date	23 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points	Event Status
1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	1	–
2	346	Tommy Evans	USA	2	–
3	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	4	–
=4	242	Risto Talosela	FIN	7	eliminated
=4	131	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS	7	eliminated

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	23 Jul	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	Decision (3-0)	Armenak Yaltyryan	URS
Match #2	23 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA	Fall (4:59)	Risto Talosela	FIN
Match #3	23 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE

Round Six

Date	23 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points
=1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	2
=1	346	Tommy Evans	USA	2
3	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	7

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	23 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE	Decision (3-0)	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI
Match #2	23 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA

Round Seven

Date	23 July 1952

Pos	Number	Competitor	NOC	Bad Points	Event Status
1	201	Olle Anderberg	SWE	3	–
2	346	Tommy Evans	USA	5	–
3	54	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI	7	eliminated

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	23 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE	Decision (2-1)	Tommy Evans	USA
Match #2	23 Jul	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI

Final Round

Date	23 July 1952

Match	Date/Time	Competitor	NOC	Result	Competitor	NOC
Match #1	23 Jul	Tommy Evans	USA	Decision (3-0)	Tofigh Jahanbakht	IRI
Match #2	23 Jul	Olle Anderberg	SWE