Light-Heavyweight, Greco-Roman (≤97 kilograms), Men

Bulgaria’s Boyan Radev was the defending gold medalist, had won the 1966 World Championships, and was runner-up at the 1967 Worlds. He was slightly favored, but the 1967 World Champion, Soviet Nikolay Yakovenko was at about the same level, and Romanian Nicolae Martinescu had won bronze at the last two Worlds and was also highly considered. After four rounds, those three remained as finalists and would contest the medals. First, Radev and Yakovenko fought to a draw, followed by Yakovenko decisioning Martinescu. Radev then threw Martinescu to win the gold medal, with Yakovenko taking silver. It was later revealed in Communist-era secret service files that Radev was an intelligence officer for Bulgaria at the time of the 1968 Olympics.