Middle-Heavyweight (≤90 kilograms), Men

Soviet David Rigert had been the top lifter in this class throughout the 1970s, but as the heavy favorite, had bombed out at the 1972 Olympics, failing to make a lift in the snatch. He came back to win the gold medal in 1976. He was considered a challenger for gold in 1980 but was no longer as dominant as he had been, although he had won the 1978 World Championship in heavyweight I class. However, Rigert did a reprise of 1972, failing to make a lift in the snatch, and was disqualified. The other top lifter in this class was West German Rolf Milser, 1978 World Champion, and runner-up at the Worlds in 1977 and 1979. Milser could not compete in 1980 as West Germany joined the USA-led boycott, which left the class wide-open after Rigert went out. In the end the surprise gold medal was won by Hungarian Péter Baczakó, who had won Olympic bronze as a light-heavyweight in 1976. He was tied by Bulgarian Rumen Aleksandrov and East German Frank Mantek.