Featherweight, Greco-Roman (≤61 kg), Men

The problem with a bad points scoring system was demonstrated in this event. The favorites Giovanni Gozzi from Italy, German Wolfgang Ehrl, and the Finn Lauri Koskela shared the medals in this order. But although Ehrl remained undefeated (he had even beaten Gozzi, who won the gold), he was eliminated with five bad points as all his wins were by decision. Gozzi became Olympic champion with wins by fall and a bye, despite his defeat against Ehrl, giving him only three bad points.

Gozzi had been bronze medalist in 1928 as a bantamweight. He never competed at a World Championship but, at the Europeans, won gold in 1927 and silver in 1925 (both as bantamweight), and a bronze as a featherweight in 1934. Ehrl would return in 1936 as a freestyler, and win another silver in the featherweight class. Koskela would move up in class after Los Angeles and win the lightweight gold medal in Berlin, also winning the European Championship in 1935, 1937, and 1938.