Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics – Men's freestyle heavyweight
{{short description|Wrestling at the Olympics}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox Olympic event
|event = Men's freestyle heavyweight
|games = 1956 Summer
|image =
|caption =
|venue = Royal Exhibition Building
|dates = 28 November–1 December 1956
|competitors = 11
|nations = 11
|gold = Hamit Kaplan
|goldNOC = TUR
|silver = Husein Mehmedov
|silverNOC = BUL
|bronze = Taisto Kangasniemi
|bronzeNOC = FIN
|prev = 1952
|next = 1960
}}
{{WrestlingAt1956SummerOlympics}}
The men's freestyle heavyweight competition at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place from 28 November to 1 December at the Royal Exhibition Building. Nations were limited to one competitor.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1956/WRE/mens-heavyweight-freestyle.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200418132140/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/summer/1956/WRE/mens-heavyweight-freestyle.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 April 2020 |title=Wrestling at the 1956 Melbourne Summer Games: Men's Freestyle Heavyweight |work=Sports Reference |access-date=14 March 2019}} Heavyweight was the heaviest category, including wrestlers weighing over {{convert|87|kg|lbs|1}}.{{sfn|Official Report|1958|p=672}}
Competition format
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, as modified in 1952 (adding medal rounds and making all losses worth 3 points—from 1936 to 1948 losses by split decision only cost 2). Each round featured all wrestlers pairing off and wrestling one bout (with one wrestler having a bye if there were an odd number). The loser received 3 points. The winner received 1 point if the win was by decision and 0 points if the win was by fall. At the end of each round, any wrestler with at least 5 points was eliminated. This elimination continued until the medal rounds, which began when 3 wrestlers remained. These 3 wrestlers each faced each other in a round-robin medal round (with earlier results counting, if any had wrestled another before); record within the medal round determined medals, with bad points breaking ties.{{sfn|Official Report|1958|p=672}}
Results
=Round 1=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Husein Mehmedov | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Hossein Nouri | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} |
| Ivan Vykhristyuk | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | John Da Silva | {{flagIOC|NZL|1956 Summer}} |
| Ken Richmond | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Lila Ram | {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} |
| Hamit Kaplan | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Bill Kerslake | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} |
| Ray Mitchell | {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 2–1 | Saburo Nakao | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} |
| Taisto Kangasniemi | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | Bye | N/A | N/A |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Taisto|Kangasniemi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Hamit|Kaplan}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Husein|Mehmedov}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Ray|Mitchell|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Ken|Richmond}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Ivan|Vykhristyuk}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|John|Da Silva}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|NZL|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Bill|Kerslake}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Saburo|Nakao}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Hossein|Nouri|dab=wrestler, born 1931}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Lila|Ram}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
=Round 2=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Husein Mehmedov | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Taisto Kangasniemi | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} |
| Hossein Nouri | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | John Da Silva | {{flagIOC|NZL|1956 Summer}} |
| Ivan Vykhristyuk | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Ken Richmond | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} |
| Hamit Kaplan | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Lila Ram | {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} |
| Bill Kerslake | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Ray Mitchell | {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} |
| Saburo Nakao | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | Bye | N/A | N/A |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Hamit|Kaplan}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Husein|Mehmedov}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 3 | align=left| {{sortname|Ivan|Vykhristyuk}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Taisto|Kangasniemi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Bill|Kerslake}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Saburo|Nakao}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Ray|Mitchell|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Hossein|Nouri|dab=wrestler, born 1931}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Ken|Richmond}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 10 | align=left| {{sortname|John|Da Silva}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|NZL|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 10 | align=left| {{sortname|Lila|Ram}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IND|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
=Round 3=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Taisto Kangasniemi | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Saburo Nakao | {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} |
| Husein Mehmedov | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Ivan Vykhristyuk | {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} |
| Hamit Kaplan | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Hossein Nouri | {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} |
| Ken Richmond | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Bill Kerslake | {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} |
| Ray Mitchell | {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | Bye | N/A | N/A |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Hamit|Kaplan}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Husein|Mehmedov}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 3 | align=left| {{sortname|Taisto|Kangasniemi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Ray|Mitchell|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Ken|Richmond}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 6 | align=left| {{sortname|Ivan|Vykhristyuk}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|URS|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Bill|Kerslake}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|USA|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 7 | align=left| {{sortname|Saburo|Nakao}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|JPN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 9 | align=left| {{sortname|Hossein|Nouri|dab=wrestler, born 1931}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|IRI|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
=Round 4=
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Taisto Kangasniemi | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | Fall | Ray Mitchell | {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} |
| Husein Mehmedov | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Ken Richmond | {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} |
| Hamit Kaplan | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Bye | N/A | N/A |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Start | Earned | Total |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 1 | align=left| {{sortname|Hamit|Kaplan}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Taisto|Kangasniemi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| style="background:#cfc;"
| 2 | align=left| {{sortname|Husein|Mehmedov}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Ray|Mitchell|dab=wrestler}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|AUS|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
| 4 | align=left| {{sortname|Ken|Richmond}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|GBR|1956 Summer}} | 4 | 3 | 7 |
=Medal rounds=
Mekhmedov's victory over Kangasniemi in round 2 counted for the medal rounds. That victory essentially decided the silver medal, as Kaplan defeated both of the other two wrestlers to take the gold medal.
; Bouts
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:left;"
! Winner | Nation | Victory Type | Loser | Nation |
| Hamit Kaplan | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Husein Mehmedov | {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} |
| Hamit Kaplan | {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | Decision, 3–0 | Taisto Kangasniemi | {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} |
; Points
| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Rank | Wrestler | Nation | Wins | Losses |
| {{gold01}} | align=left| {{sortname|Hamit|Kaplan}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|TUR|1956 Summer}} | 2 | 0 |
| {{silver02}} | align=left| {{sortname|Husein|Mehmedov}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|BUL|1956 Summer}} | 1 | 1 |
| {{bronze03}} | align=left| {{sortname|Taisto|Kangasniemi}} | align=left| {{flagIOC|FIN|1956 Summer}} | 0 | 2 |
References
{{Reflist}}
General
- {{Cite book |title=The Official Report of the Organizing Committee for the Games of the XVI Olympiad, Melbourne, 1956 |year=1956 |publisher=W. M. Houston |location=Melbourne |publication-date=1958 |url=https://digital.la84.org/digital/collection/p17103coll8/id/16475/rec/23 |ref={{sfnref|Official Report|1958}} }}
{{Footer Olympic Champions freestyle wrestling heavyweight}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wrestling at the 1956 Summer Olympics - Men's freestyle heavyweight}}