| | Event type
Light-Heavyweight, Freestyle (≤90 kg), Men
| Date | 27 – 29 September 1988 | |
|---|---|---|
| Status | Olympic | |
| Location | Sang-mu Che-yuk-gwan, Seongnam | |
| Participants | 28 from 28 countries | |
| Format | Two groups (A and B). Double elimination tournament within each group. Top four in each group advance to placement matches for 1st-8th place. | |
Soviet Makharbek Khadartsev had won the last two World and European Championships and came in as a heavy favorite. His expected victory was less a competition than a coronation, as he won every group match comfortably. His final opponent was Japan’s Akira Ota, the 1984 silver medalist, but Ota was no match for Khadartsev, losing 16-0, when the match was stopped for technical superiority at 3:27. Khadartsev continued to dominate this class in the next few years, winning the Worlds in 1989-91, the Europeans in 1991-92, and adding a second Olympic gold at Barcelona in 1992. In 1996 he moved up to heavyweight, winning a silver medal in Atlanta.
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | Round Eliminated | CP | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev |  URS | – | – | Gold | ||
| 2 | 1 | Akira Ota |  JPN | – | – | Silver | ||
| 3 | 22 | Kim Tae-U |  KOR | – | – | Bronze | ||
| 4 | 11 | Gábor Tóth |  HUN | – | – | |||
| 5 | 15 | Jim Scherr |  USA | – | – | |||
| 6 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov |  BUL | – | – | |||
| 7 | 23 | Iraklis Deskoulidis |  GRE | – | – | |||
| 8 | 2 | Zevegiin Düvchin |  MGL | – | – | |||
| 17 | Graeme English |  GBR | eliminated r4/6 Group A | 8.0 | ||||
| 7 | Abdul Majeed |  PAK | eliminated r4/6 Group A | 8.0 | ||||
| 27 | Mehmet Türkkaya |  TUR | eliminated r4/6 Group A | 7.0 | ||||
| 9 | Subhash Verma |  IND | eliminated r3/6 Group A | 5.5 | ||||
| 25 | Mohammad Taj |  AFG | eliminated r3/6 Group A | 5.0 | ||||
| 18 | Doug Cox |  CAN | eliminated r2/6 Group A | 1.0 | ||||
| 3 | Christian Iloanusi |  NGR | eliminated r2/6 Group A | 1.0 | ||||
| 5 | Wally Koenig |  AUS | eliminated r2/6 Group A | 0.0 | ||||
| 9 | Samba Adama |  MTN | eliminated r2/6 Group A | 0.0 | ||||
| 2 | Tapha Guèye |  SEN | eliminated r2/6 Group A | 0.0 | ||||
| 26 | Edwin Lins |  AUT | eliminated r7/7 Group B | 12.0 | ||||
| 8 | Hubert Bindels |  BEL | eliminated r4/7 Group B | 8.0 | ||||
| 16 | Bodo Lukowski |  FRG | eliminated r3/7 Group B | 5.0 | ||||
| 24 | Ahmad Al-Shamy |  SYR | eliminated r3/7 Group B | 5.0 | ||||
| 14 | Mohamed Reza Tupchi |  IRI | eliminated r3/7 Group B | 4.0 | ||||
| 21 | Roberto Leitão |  BRA | eliminated r2/7 Group B | 2.0 | ||||
| 12 | Jerzy Nieć |  POL | eliminated r2/7 Group B | 1.0 | ||||
| 22 | Jean-Baptiste Youmbi |  CMR | eliminated r2/7 Group B | 0.0 | ||||
| 28 | Bakary Sanneh |  GAM | eliminated r2/7 Group B | 0.0 | ||||
| 4 | Reuben Tucker |  GUM | eliminated r2/7 Group B | 0.0 |
Group A - Round One
| Date | 27 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 17 | Graeme English | GBR | 4.0 | ||
| =1 | 23 | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | 4.0 | ||
| =1 | 7 | Abdul Majeed | PAK | 4.0 | ||
| =4 | 11 | Gábor Tóth | HUN | 3.0 | ||
| =4 | 1 | Akira Ota | JPN | 3.0 | ||
| =4 | 27 | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR | 3.0 | ||
| =4 | 15 | Jim Scherr | USA | 3.0 | ||
| =8 | 25 | Mohammad Taj | AFG | 1.0 | ||
| =8 | 18 | Doug Cox | CAN | 1.0 | ||
| =8 | 9 | Subhash Verma | IND | 1.0 | ||
| =8 | 3 | Christian Iloanusi | NGR | 1.0 | ||
| =12 | 5 | Wally Koenig | AUS | 0.0 | ||
| =12 | 9 | Samba Adama | MTN | 0.0 | ||
| =12 | 2 | Tapha Guèye | SEN | 0.0 |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 27 Sep | Akira Ota | JPN | Decision (12-6) | Christian Iloanusi | NGR | |
| Match #2 | 27 Sep | Abdul Majeed | PAK | Fall (2:03) | Wally Koenig | AUS | |
| Match #3 | 27 Sep | Gábor Tóth | HUN | Decision (11-4) | Subhash Verma | IND | |
| Match #4 | 27 Sep | Jim Scherr | USA | Decision (10-7) | Doug Cox | CAN | |
| Match #5 | 27 Sep | Graeme English | GBR | Fall (2:13) | Tapha Guèye | SEN | |
| Match #6 | 27 Sep | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | Fall (2:45) | Samba Adama | MTN | |
| Match #7 | 27 Sep | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR | Decision (14-4) | Mohammad Taj | AFG |
Group A - Round Two
| Date | 27 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 17 | Graeme English | GBR | 8.0 | – | ||
| =2 | 1 | Akira Ota | JPN | 7.0 | – | ||
| =2 | 7 | Abdul Majeed | PAK | 7.0 | – | ||
| 4 | 15 | Jim Scherr | USA | 6.0 | – | ||
| 5 | 25 | Mohammad Taj | AFG | 5.0 | – | ||
| 6 | 9 | Subhash Verma | IND | 4.5 | – | ||
| =7 | 23 | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | 4.0 | – | ||
| =7 | 11 | Gábor Tóth | HUN | 4.0 | – | ||
| 9 | 27 | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR | 3.0 | – | ||
| =10 | 18 | Doug Cox | CAN | 1.0 | eliminated | ||
| =10 | 3 | Christian Iloanusi | NGR | 1.0 | eliminated | ||
| =12 | 5 | Wally Koenig | AUS | 0.0 | eliminated | ||
| =12 | 9 | Samba Adama | MTN | 0.0 | eliminated | ||
| =12 | 2 | Tapha Guèye | SEN | 0.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 27 Sep | Akira Ota | JPN | Fall (1:12) | Wally Koenig | AUS | |
| Match #2 | 27 Sep | Abdul Majeed | PAK | Passivity (3:26) | Christian Iloanusi | NGR | |
| Match #3 | 27 Sep | Subhash Verma | IND | Decision (15-0) (2:41) | Doug Cox | CAN | |
| Match #4 | 27 Sep | Jim Scherr | USA | Decision (3-1) | Gábor Tóth | HUN | |
| Match #5 | 27 Sep | Graeme English | GBR | Fall (1:24) | Samba Adama | MTN | |
| Match #6 | 27 Sep | Mohammad Taj | AFG | Fall (1:30) | Tapha Guèye | SEN | |
| Match #7 | 27 Sep | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | Dq (double passivity) | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR |
Group A - Round Three
| Date | 27 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Akira Ota | JPN | 11.0 | – | ||
| 2 | 15 | Jim Scherr | USA | 9.0 | – | ||
| =3 | 17 | Graeme English | GBR | 8.0 | – | ||
| =3 | 23 | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | 8.0 | – | ||
| 5 | 11 | Gábor Tóth | HUN | 7.5 | – | ||
| =6 | 7 | Abdul Majeed | PAK | 7.0 | – | ||
| =6 | 27 | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR | 7.0 | – | ||
| 8 | 9 | Subhash Verma | IND | 5.5 | eliminated | ||
| 9 | 25 | Mohammad Taj | AFG | 5.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 27 Sep | Akira Ota | JPN | Fall (1:52) | Abdul Majeed | PAK | |
| Match #2 | 27 Sep | Jim Scherr | USA | Decision (6-3) | Subhash Verma | IND | |
| Match #3 | 27 Sep | Gábor Tóth | HUN | Decision (10-0) | Graeme English | GBR | |
| Match #4 | 27 Sep | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | Fall (1:52) | Mohammad Taj | AFG | |
| Match #5 | 27 Sep | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR |
Group A - Round Four
| Date | 28 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Akira Ota | JPN | 15.0 | – | ||
| 2 | 15 | Jim Scherr | USA | 12.5 | – | ||
| 3 | 23 | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | 12.0 | – | ||
| 4 | 11 | Gábor Tóth | HUN | 10.5 | – | ||
| =5 | 17 | Graeme English | GBR | 8.0 | eliminated | ||
| =5 | 7 | Abdul Majeed | PAK | 8.0 | eliminated | ||
| 7 | 27 | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR | 7.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 28 Sep | Akira Ota | JPN | Fall (5:51) | Mehmet Türkkaya | TUR | |
| Match #2 | 28 Sep | Gábor Tóth | HUN | Decision (6-2) | Abdul Majeed | PAK | |
| Match #3 | 28 Sep | Jim Scherr | USA | Decision (15-0) (3:49) | Graeme English | GBR | |
| Match #4 | 28 Sep | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE |
Group A - Round Five
| Date | 28 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Akira Ota | JPN | 19.0 | ||
| 2 | 11 | Gábor Tóth | HUN | 13.5 | ||
| 3 | 15 | Jim Scherr | USA | 12.5 | ||
| 4 | 23 | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | 12.0 |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 28 Sep | Gábor Tóth | HUN | Decision (4-0) | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | |
| Match #2 | 28 Sep | Akira Ota | JPN | Fall (5:06) | Jim Scherr | USA |
Group A - Round Six
| Date | 28 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Akira Ota | JPN | 20.0 | ||
| 2 | 11 | Gábor Tóth | HUN | 16.5 |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 28 Sep | Gábor Tóth | HUN | Decision (5-4) | Akira Ota | JPN |
Group B - Round One
| Date | 27 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 26 | Edwin Lins | AUT | 4.0 | ||
| =1 | 2 | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | 4.0 | ||
| 3 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 3.5 | ||
| =4 | 8 | Hubert Bindels | BEL | 3.0 | ||
| =4 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | 3.0 | ||
| =4 | 14 | Mohamed Reza Tupchi | IRI | 3.0 | ||
| =4 | 22 | Kim Tae-U | KOR | 3.0 | ||
| =8 | 21 | Roberto Leitão | BRA | 1.0 | ||
| =8 | 16 | Bodo Lukowski | FRG | 1.0 | ||
| =8 | 12 | Jerzy Nieć | POL | 1.0 | ||
| =8 | 24 | Ahmad Al-Shamy | SYR | 1.0 | ||
| =12 | 22 | Jean-Baptiste Youmbi | CMR | 0.0 | ||
| =12 | 28 | Bakary Sanneh | GAM | 0.0 | ||
| =12 | 4 | Reuben Tucker | GUM | 0.0 |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 27 Sep | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | Fall (1:20) | Reuben Tucker | GUM | |
| Match #2 | 27 Sep | Hubert Bindels | BEL | Decision (10-6) | Roberto Leitão | BRA | |
| Match #3 | 27 Sep | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | Decision (9-3) | Jerzy Nieć | POL | |
| Match #4 | 27 Sep | Mohamed Reza Tupchi | IRI | Decision (3-2) | Bodo Lukowski | FRG | |
| Match #5 | 27 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Decision (15-0) (3:00) | Jean-Baptiste Youmbi | CMR | |
| Match #6 | 27 Sep | Kim Tae-U | KOR | Decision (8-2) | Ahmad Al-Shamy | SYR | |
| Match #7 | 27 Sep | Edwin Lins | AUT | Fall (1:36) | Bakary Sanneh | GAM |
Group B - Round Two
| Date | 27 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| =1 | 8 | Hubert Bindels | BEL | 7.0 | – | ||
| =1 | 2 | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | 7.0 | – | ||
| =3 | 22 | Kim Tae-U | KOR | 6.5 | – | ||
| =3 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 6.5 | – | ||
| 5 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | 6.0 | – | ||
| =6 | 26 | Edwin Lins | AUT | 5.0 | – | ||
| =6 | 24 | Ahmad Al-Shamy | SYR | 5.0 | – | ||
| =8 | 16 | Bodo Lukowski | FRG | 4.0 | – | ||
| =8 | 14 | Mohamed Reza Tupchi | IRI | 4.0 | – | ||
| 10 | 21 | Roberto Leitão | BRA | 2.0 | eliminated | ||
| 11 | 12 | Jerzy Nieć | POL | 1.0 | eliminated | ||
| =12 | 22 | Jean-Baptiste Youmbi | CMR | 0.0 | eliminated | ||
| =12 | 28 | Bakary Sanneh | GAM | 0.0 | eliminated | ||
| =12 | 4 | Reuben Tucker | GUM | 0.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 27 Sep | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | Decision (9-2) | Roberto Leitão | BRA | |
| Match #2 | 27 Sep | Hubert Bindels | BEL | Fall (0:36) | Reuben Tucker | GUM | |
| Match #3 | 27 Sep | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | Decision (3-2) | Mohamed Reza Tupchi | IRI | |
| Match #4 | 27 Sep | Bodo Lukowski | FRG | Passivity (5:08) | Jerzy Nieć | POL | |
| Match #5 | 27 Sep | Kim Tae-U | KOR | Passivity (4:41) | Jean-Baptiste Youmbi | CMR | |
| Match #6 | 27 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Decision (10-1) | Edwin Lins | AUT | |
| Match #7 | 27 Sep | Ahmad Al-Shamy | SYR | Fall (1:55) | Bakary Sanneh | GAM |
Group B - Round Three
| Date | 27 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 10.5 | – | ||
| 2 | 2 | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | 10.0 | – | ||
| 3 | 22 | Kim Tae-U | KOR | 9.5 | – | ||
| =4 | 26 | Edwin Lins | AUT | 9.0 | – | ||
| =4 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | 9.0 | – | ||
| 6 | 8 | Hubert Bindels | BEL | 8.0 | – | ||
| =7 | 16 | Bodo Lukowski | FRG | 5.0 | eliminated | ||
| =7 | 24 | Ahmad Al-Shamy | SYR | 5.0 | eliminated | ||
| 9 | 14 | Mohamed Reza Tupchi | IRI | 4.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 27 Sep | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | Decision (3-1) | Hubert Bindels | BEL | |
| Match #2 | 27 Sep | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | Decision (3-2) | Bodo Lukowski | FRG | |
| Match #3 | 27 Sep | Kim Tae-U | KOR | Passivity (3:27) | Mohamed Reza Tupchi | IRI | |
| Match #4 | 27 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Fall (2:47) | Ahmad Al-Shamy | SYR | |
| Match #5 | 27 Sep | Edwin Lins | AUT |
Group B - Round Four
| Date | 28 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 14.5 | – | ||
| =2 | 26 | Edwin Lins | AUT | 12.0 | – | ||
| =2 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | 12.0 | – | ||
| 4 | 2 | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | 11.0 | – | ||
| 5 | 22 | Kim Tae-U | KOR | 9.5 | – | ||
| 6 | 8 | Hubert Bindels | BEL | 8.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 28 Sep | Edwin Lins | AUT | Decision (6-5) | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | |
| Match #2 | 28 Sep | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | Decision (9-0) | Hubert Bindels | BEL | |
| Match #3 | 28 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Fall (3:54) | Kim Tae-U | KOR |
Group B - Round Five
| Date | 28 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 18.5 | ||
| 2 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | 16.0 | ||
| 3 | 22 | Kim Tae-U | KOR | 13.5 | ||
| 4 | 26 | Edwin Lins | AUT | 12.0 | ||
| 5 | 2 | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | 11.0 |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 28 Sep | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | Fall (1:41) | Edwin Lins | AUT | |
| Match #2 | 28 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Fall (1:46) | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL | |
| Match #3 | 28 Sep | Kim Tae-U | KOR |
Group B - Round Six
| Date | 28 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 22.5 | ||
| 2 | 10 | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | 17.0 | ||
| 3 | 22 | Kim Tae-U | KOR | 16.5 |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 28 Sep | Kim Tae-U | KOR | Decision (5-3) | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | |
| Match #2 | 28 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS |
Group B - Round Seven
| Date | 29 September 1988 |
|---|
| Pos | Number | Competitor | NOC | CP | Event Status | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 20 | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | 26.5 | – | ||
| 2 | 26 | Edwin Lins | AUT | 12.0 | eliminated |
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match #1 | 29 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Fall (5:27) | Edwin Lins | AUT |
Final Round
| Date | 29 September 1988 |
|---|
| Match | Date/Time | Competitor | NOC | Result | Competitor | NOC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1/2 | 29 Sep | Makharbek Khadartsev | URS | Decision (16-0) (3:27) | Akira Ota | JPN | |
| Match 3/4 | 29 Sep | Kim Tae-U | KOR | Decision (1-0) | Gábor Tóth | HUN | |
| Match 5/6 | 29 Sep | Jim Scherr | USA | Decision (3-1) | Rumen Alabakov | BUL | |
| Match 7/8 | 29 Sep | Iraklis Deskoulidis | GRE | Decision (4-2) | Zevegiin Düvchin | MGL |