[1] Lightweight was the fourth-lightest category, including wrestlers weighing 62 to 67 kilograms (136.7 to 147.7 lb).

[2] 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, removing the slight modification introduced in 1936 and used until 1948 (which had a reduced penalty for a loss by 2–1 decision).

This elimination continued until the medal rounds, which began when 3 wrestlers remained.

Yaltyryan finished 4th over Talosela due to their head-to-head match in round 2.

Evans, having lost to Anderberg, beat Jahanbakht to take silver.