Super-Heavyweight (>110 kilograms), Men

Aleksandr Kurlovich had won the 1987 World Championships, after returning from a two-year ban from competition, which had been given him when he pleaded guilty in 1984 to importing anabolic steroids into Canada with intent to sell. Kurlovich won this event with ridiculous ease, snatching 212.5 kg to take a 22.5 kg lead, and also jerking the most weight, as his total of 462.5 kg was 32.5 kg ahead of West German Manfred Nerlinger. Kurlovich would return in 1992 and defend his gold medal at Barcelona.

Kurlovich might have had competition in Seoul in the form of Bulgarian Antonio Krastev, who had won the 1985-86 World Championships when Kurlovich was banned by the International Weightlifting Federation. However, after Mitko Grablev and Angel Genchev tested positive at doping controls in lighter classes, the Bulgarians withdrew the remainder of their lifters and Krastev did not compete.