Weightlifting at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's +90 kg explained

Event:	Men's +90 kg
Games:	1956 Summer
Venue:	Royal Exhibition Building
Date:	26 November 1956
Competitors:	9
Nations:	9
Win Label:	Winning total
Win Value:	500 kg OR
Gold:	Paul Anderson
Goldnoc:	USA
Silver:	Humberto Selvetti
Silvernoc:	ARG
Bronze:	Alberto Pigaiani
Bronzenoc:	ITA
Prev:	1952
Next:	1960

The men's +90 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place on 26 November at the Royal Exhibition Building.^[1] It was the eighth appearance of the heavyweight class, and second time at the above-90 kg weight. Previously, all weightlifters above 82.5 kg were included in the heavyweight class.^[2]

Competition format

Each weightlifter had three attempts at each of the three lifts. The best score for each lift was summed to give a total. The weightlifter could increase the weight between attempts (minimum of 5 kg between first and second attempts, 2.5 kg between second and third attempts) but could not decrease weight. If two or more weightlifters finished with the same total, the competitors' body weights were used as the tie-breaker (lighter athlete wins).^[1]

Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.

World record	Press		185.5 kg		1955
	Snatch		150 kg		1954
	Clean & Jerk		196.5 kg		1955
	Total		512.2 kg	Munich, West Germany	16 October 1955
Olympic record	Press		150 kg	Helsinki, Finland	27 July 1952
	Snatch		145 kg	Helsinki, Finland	27 July 1952
	Clean & Jerk		177.5 kg	London, United Kingdom	11 August 1948
	Total		460 kg	Helsinki, Finland	27 July 1952

Results

Rank	Athlete	Nation	Body weight	Press (kg)				Snatch (kg)				Clean & Jerk (kg)				Total
				1	2	3	Result	1	2	3	Result	1	2	3	Result
			137.90	167.5	172.5	172.5	167.5	140	145	145	145	187.5	187.5	187.5	187.5	500
			143.50	165	175	180	175	135	140	145	145 =	170	180	185	180	500
			131.80	145	150	150	150	125	130	130	130	165	172.5	175	172.5	452.5
4			99.50	140	147.5	150	147.5	125	130	132.5	132.5	162.5	170	175	170	450
5			108.60	122.5	127.5	130	127.5	130	135	137.5	137.5	162.5	167.5	172.5	167.5	432.5
6			125.60	140	147.5	155	147.5	122.5	130	130	122.5	155	162.5	162.5	162.5	432.5
7			123.80	142.5	147.5	147.5	142.5	120	125	127.5	125	157.5	157.5	165	157.5	425
8			120.70	117.5	125	130	125	115	122.5	127.5	122.5	145	150	155	150	397.5
9			113.00	115	122.5	130	122.5	100	105	110	105	132.5	132.5	137.5	132.5	360

New records

Press	175 kg
Snatch	145 kg		=
Clean & Jerk	187.5 kg
Total	500 kg

Notes and References

1. Official Report, p. 646.
2. Web site: Weightlifting at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Heavyweight . https://web.archive.org/web/20200418132130/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1956/WLT/mens-heavyweight.html . dead . 18 April 2020 . Sports Reference . 26 December 2019.