[3] This freestyle wrestling competition continued to use the "bad points" elimination system introduced at the 1928 Summer Olympics for Greco-Roman and at the 1932 Summer Olympics for freestyle wrestling, with a slight modification.

[3] The four wrestlers who won by fall and the one with the bye took the lead, with 0 bad points.

[4] Three losers and one winner were eliminated this round; Gavelli was out with a 5th point after winning by decision.

Pihlajamäki was the only wrestler to maintain a 0-point score through the third round, though three men had only 1 point apiece.

Pihlajamäki won by fall again, keeping his 0 point run intact.

However, Millard proved the better by split decision, giving both wrestlers 5 points and ending the competition with Pihlajamäki the only man left to take gold.