Lightweight (≤67½ kg), Men

The last two World Champions in this class 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 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, who lifted 105.0 kg. Attia Mohammed had been the silver medalist in the class at the 1938 World Championships. He took the lead with a snatch of 110.0 kg, but Shams’ Olympic record of 115.0 kg moved him into second place. After Attia Mohammed 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).