Super-Heavyweight, Freestyle (>100 kg), Men

The favorite was Aleksandr Medved, who had won light-heavyweight gold in 1964, and this division in 1968, when it was called the heavyweight class. Since the heavyweights and super-heavys had separated at the 1969 World Championships, Medved had won every title, with the runner-up each time Bulgarian Osman Duraliev, who had also been second to Medved at the 1968 Olympics. One other contender in 1972 was American Chris Taylor, who was especially notable for his size, as he weighed over 400 lbs. (182 kg). Taylor and Medved met in round one, with Medved winning on decision after referee gave Taylor a controversial passivity penalty. They won the rest of their bouts, with the bad points Taylor accumulated by his loss to Medved eliminating him after round five, and leaving him with a bronze medal. Medved and Duraliev were the only wrestlers remaining after the fifth round and Medved defeated Duraliev, as he always did, by decision.