[1] Middleweight was the third-heaviest category, including wrestlers weighing 73 to 79 kilograms (160.9 to 174.2 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.

The Soviet wrestler defeated Takhti to finish 2–0 against the other medalists and earn the gold medal.

Gurics was injured after the round 5 bout and was unable to face Takhti for the silver medal.