Super-Heavyweight, Greco-Roman (≤130 kg), Men

Defending Olympic Champion Aleksandr Karelin, a Russian wrestling for the Unified Team in Barcelona, had won every World Championship since 1989 and every European title since 1988. He had not been beaten in five years. His repeat victory in Barcelona was more a coronation than a competition, as only one wrestler lasted the full five minutes against him, and that was an 8-1 decision victory over Finn Juha Ahokas in round three of Group A. In the final Karelin threw Sweden’s Tomas Johansson in only 1:33. Johansson had been the bronze medalist in 1988 and was, at first, a silver medalist in 1984, before being disqualified for a doping positive. Karelin would return in 1996, continuing to win every international meet, and won his third consecutive gold medal. Still dominant as of 2000, he was beaten in the final match at the Sydney Olympics by American Rulon Gardner, one of the biggest upsets in Olympic history, and wrestling history.