Middleweight, Greco-Roman (≤77 kilograms), Men

Tamás Lőrincz was competing in his fourth Olympics for Hungary. He had won silver in 2012 at 66 kg, but was a four-time World Championship medallist, highlighted by his 2019 title in this class after silvers in 2015 and 2017. He came to Tokyo seeded first. The second seed went to Sweden’s Alex Kessidis, but he would lose his opening match to Azerbaijani Rafiq Hüseynov on a judges’ decision after they tied, 1-1.

Lőrincz would add Olympic gold to his palmarès but was far from dominant. He won in round one by a forfeit and then won his final three bouts by decision, all by margins of 1 or 2 points. In the final Lőrincz faced Kyrgyzstan’s Akzhol Makhmudov, defeating him 2-1 in a dull match. One day later, Tamás Lőrincz’s brother Viktor would add a silver medal to the family trophy chest by placing second at 87 kg Greco-Roman. Makhmudov was a 2018 Asian Champion but had only made it to the Olympics by winning an Olympic qualifying tournament earlier in 2021.

The repêchage rounds went completely against the betting favorites, as both losing semi-finalists lost to finish equal fifth. Japan’s Shohei Yabiku had a bye to the repêchage final where he defeated Iranian Mohammadali Geraei, who had lost his semi to Lőrincz. Azerbaijan’s Hüseynov won his opening match in the repêchage and then took bronze by defeating Armenian Karapet Chalyan, who had been defeated by Makhmudov in their semi-final.