Lightweight (≤67½ kilograms), Men

The weightlifting Cold War was on hold in this event as no Americans entered. The last three World Champions since Helsinki were also not entered, nor was Egyptian Said Khalifa Gouda, who had won medals at the World Championships in 1953-55, which made picking favorites difficult. There were two Soviet lifters in the class, Igor Rybak and Ravil Khabutdinov. Khabutdinov took the early lead with a press of 125.0 kg, while Rybak’s mark of 110.0 kg left him in fifth place, but Rybak led the snatch phase with 120.0 kg, and moved into second, 5 kg short of Khabutdinov. When Rybak lifted 150.0 kg in the clean & jerk the gold medal was his, with Khabutdinov holding onto second despite a weak C&J of only 137.5 kg. Korean Kim Chang-Hui won the bronze medal, showing steady improvement at the Olympics, as he had been sixth in 1948 and fourth in 1952 in this class.