Middleweight (≤75 kilograms), Men

The favorite was American Tommy Kono, who had won gold medals at Helsinki as a lightweight and Melbourne as a light-heavyweight. He was World Champion in this class from 1957-59 and came into Rome as the world record holder. His biggest opponent was expected to be Soviet Aleksandr Kurynov, although he had no international reputation prior to 1960. Kono led after the press with 140.0 kg, but Kurynov lifted 132.5 kg in the snatch and the two were tied entering the clean & jerk. Kurynov then lifted a world record 170.0 kg, which broke Kono’s total world record with 437.5 kg, and brought him the gold medal.

Kono continued to compete through 1964 but retired when he failed to make the USA team for Tokyo. Kurynov became the top lifter in this class in the early 1960s, winning the World title from 1961-63 and the European title from 1960-63. He was left off the 1964 Soviet team by head coach Arkady Vorobyov, who did not approve of his training methods.