Lightweight (≤67½ kilograms), Men

The last two World Champions were Americans Stan Stanczyk (1946) and Pete George (1947) but, although both were present in London, they had moved up in weight. The 1936 featherweight bronze medalist, Egypt’s Ibrahim Hassanien Shams also moved up in weight, and competed as a lightweight in London. The leader after the press was Canada’s John Stuart, with an Olympic record 107.5 kg, trailed by Shams teammate, Attia Mohammed Hamouda, who lifted 105.0 kg. Hamouda had been the silver medalist in the class at the 1938 World Championships. Hamouda took the lead with a snatch of 110.0 kg, but Shams’ Olympic record of 115.0 kg moved him into second place. After Hamouda lifted 145.0 kg in the clean & jerk, Shams had to hoist 147.5 kg to tie him and win the gold medal on lower bodyweight. Shams backed off from the bar twice, but on his third approach, he quickly lifted it overhead cleanly to win the title. Britain Jim Halliday and American John Terpak tied for third at 340.0 kg, 20.0 kg behind the Egyptians, but Halliday won the bronze medal on lower bodyweight, 40 grams lighter than Terpak (about 1⅓ ounce).