Heavyweight I (≤100 kilograms), Men

The top two lifters in this class in recent years had been Soviet Pavel Kuznetsov and Romanian Nicu Vlad, gold medalist in 1984 in the middle-heavyweight class. Kuznetsov had won the 1987 World title with Vlad second, while Vlad was World Champion in 1986. Also considered a medal contender was Hungarian Andor Szanyi, the 1985 World Champion. However, this event was not close as Kuznetsov had the best snatch and then easily lifted the most in the clean & jerk to win gold with 425.0 kg. Szanyi lifted 407.5 and seemed to be the gold medalist with Vlad originally third, but Szanyi then tested positive for stanozolol, an anabolic steroid, and was disqualified, allowing Vlad to move up to the silver medal. Vlad also competed at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in 1996 in the heavyweight II division.