Middleweight (≤75 kilograms), Men

There were seven entrants, with German Rudolf Ismayr slightly favored over Italy’s Carlo Galimberti. Ismayr had held the world record in 1931 and was the 1931 European Champion. Galimberti was the defending silver medalist from Amsterdam and had also been runner-up at the Europeans in 1930-31. In 1930 that title went to Kurt Helbig, who was the current world record holder and had won gold at Amsterdam in the lightweight class, but he did not compete at Los Angeles. Another medal contender was Austrian Karl Hipfinger, the 1929 European Champion.

Ismayr and Galimberti tied in the press with 102.5 kg, also equaled by Roger François (FRA). Ismayr moved 5.0 kg ahead after the snatch, with Galimberti second, and François in third. The best lift in the clean & jerk was by Hipfinger, which brought him the bronze medal. Ismayr remained in first to garner gold with Galimberti taking another silver medal. In 1936 at Berlin, Ismayr would win the silver medal.