Middleweight, Greco-Roman (≤74 kg), Men

Bulgarian Yavor Yanakiev was the 2007 World Champion, but he lost in the first round against China’s Chang Yongxiang, the 2008 Asian Champion. Chang went all the way to the final, where he met Georgian Manuchar K’virk’velia, the 2003 World Champion, who had defeated Hungary’s 2008 European Champion, Péter Bácsi, in the semi-finals. The final was not close as K’virk’velia dominated Chang, winning the first two periods, 6-0 / 3-0. Chang’s silver, however, was the first ever won by a Chinese man in Olympic wrestling. The bronze medals went to Yanakiev and France’s Christophe Guénot, whose previous best international finish was a bronze at the 2005 Mediterranean Games. Shortly before this class ended, Guénot’s brother, Steeve, had won the welterweight Greco-Roman gold medal.