Flyweight, Greco-Roman (≤52 kilograms), Men

The last two World Champions were Soviet Vakht’ang Blagidze (1978) and Hungarian Lajos Rácz (1979). Blagidze was also European Champion in 1978 and earlier in 1980. Rácz was fortunate to make the final, after his second round match against Romania’s Nicu Gingă, when both were disqualified for passivity, with both earning 4.0 bad points. Rácz, however, did not lose another match until the final, when he met Blagidze, who had come through undefeated. The expected tight match did not happen, as Blagidze crushed Rácz, 19-1, to win the gold medal, having defeated Bulgarian Mladen Mladenov in round three. In the final match Rácz defeated Mladenov, 5-0, to take the silver medal.