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

The men's +90 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place on 26 November at the Royal Exhibition Building. 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.

## 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).

## Records

Prior to this competition, the existing world and Olympic records were as follows.
| World record | Press | Paul Anderson (USA) | 185.5 kg | | 1955 |
| World record | Snatch | Norbert Schemansky (USA) | 150 kg | | 1954 |
| World record | Clean & Jerk | Paul Anderson (USA) | 196.5 kg | | 1955 |
| World record | Total | Paul Anderson (USA) | 512.2 kg | Munich, West Germany | 16 October 1955 |
| Olympic record | Press | John Davis (USA) Humberto Selvetti (ARG) | 150 kg | Helsinki, Finland | 27 July 1952 |
| Olympic record | Snatch | John Davis (USA) | 145 kg | Helsinki, Finland | 27 July 1952 |
| Olympic record | Clean & Jerk | John Davis (USA) | 177.5 kg | London, United Kingdom | 11 August 1948 |
| Olympic record | Total | John Davis (USA) | 460 kg | Helsinki, Finland | 27 July 1952 |

## Results

| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Body weight | Press (kg) | Press (kg) | Press (kg) | Press (kg) | Snatch (kg) | Snatch (kg) | Snatch (kg) | Snatch (kg) | Clean & Jerk (kg) | Clean & Jerk (kg) | Clean & Jerk (kg) | Clean & Jerk (kg) | Total |
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Body weight | 1 | 2 | 3 | Result | 1 | 2 | 3 | Result | 1 | 2 | 3 | Result | Total |
| | Paul Anderson | United States | 137.90 | 167.5 | 172.5 | 172.5 | 167.5 | 140 | 145 | 145 | 145 | 187.5 | 187.5 | 187.5 | 187.5 OR | 500 OR |
| | Humberto Selvetti | Argentina | 143.50 | 165 | 175 | 180 | 175 OR | 135 | 140 | 145 | 145 =OR | 170 | 180 | 185 | 180 | 500 OR |
| | Alberto Pigaiani | Italy | 131.80 | 145 | 150 | 150 | 150 | 125 | 130 | 130 | 130 | 165 | 172.5 | 175 | 172.5 | 452.5 |
| 4 | Firouz Pojhan | Iran | 99.50 | 140 | 147.5 | 150 | 147.5 | 125 | 130 | 132.5 | 132.5 | 162.5 | 170 | 175 | 170 | 450 |
| 5 | Eino Mäkinen | Finland | 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 | Dave Baillie | Canada | 125.60 | 140 | 147.5 | 155 | 147.5 | 122.5 | 130 | 130 | 122.5 | 155 | 162.5 | 162.5 | 162.5 | 432.5 |
| 7 | Franz Hölbl | Austria | 123.80 | 142.5 | 147.5 | 147.5 | 142.5 | 120 | 125 | 127.5 | 125 | 157.5 | 157.5 | 165 | 157.5 | 425 |
| 8 | Hugh Jones | New Zealand | 120.70 | 117.5 | 125 | 130 | 125 | 115 | 122.5 | 127.5 | 122.5 | 145 | 150 | 155 | 150 | 397.5 |
| 9 | Dandamudi Rajagopal | India | 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 | Humberto Selvetti (ARG) | OR |
| Snatch | 145 kg | Paul Anderson (USA) Humberto Selvetti (ARG) | =OR |
| Clean & Jerk | 187.5 kg | Paul Anderson (USA) | OR |
| Total | 500 kg | Paul Anderson (USA) Humberto Selvetti (ARG) | OR |