Heavyweight, Freestyle (≤100 kilograms), Men

The only major contender missing was American Russ Hellickson, the 1976 silver medalist, who had lost in the final of the 1979 Worlds to Soviet Illia Mate. Mate, however, would have been favored at any rate, also having won the 1979 European title. Another contender was Bulgarian Slavcho Chervenkov, runner-up at the Europeans in 1979-80. Mate and Chervenkov both made the final round, joined there by Czechoslovak Július Strnisko. Mate had won a close decision over Chervenkov in round four, 6-4, so when he defeated Strnisko by superior decision in the final, 15-3, Mate won the gold medal. Chervenkov also easily defeated Strnisko, 11-3, to take silver. Mate would win the 1982 World Championships, again defeating Chervenkov in the final round. Strnisko won two more bronze medals at the 1982-83 European Championships.