Lightweight (≤67½ kilograms), Men

With the numbers 1-4 of the last World Championships not competing because their nations boycotted the Olympics, the favorites for competition were Yao Jingyuan of China (5th) and Jouni Grönman (6th). Defening champion, Bulgaria’s Yanko Rusev, meanwhile claimed the title at the Friendship Games with a combined total of 337.5 kg. Not competing there was East German Andreas Behm, who had recently improved the combined world record on two occasions to 355 kg.

Competing a lower level, Yao still opened strongly with a 142.5 kg snatch, which was matched by Andrei Socaci of Romania. Grönman trailed by 2.5 kg, tying with two more lifters. In the all-deciding clean & jerk, Yao was again the best. Grönman made up his deficit to Socaci but still had to contend with bronze, as he had weighed in at 67.20 versus 67.10 for the Romanian.