The Men's Bantamweight Weightlifting Event is the second lightest men's event at the weightlifting competition, limiting competitors to a maximum of 56 kilograms of body mass. Each weightlifter had three attempts for both the snatch and clean and jerk lifting methods. The total of the best successful lift of each method was used to determine the final rankings and medal winners. Competition took place on 21 July in the Izmailovo Sports Palace.
The men's 56 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place on 9 August at the Empress Hall of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. It was the first appearance of the bantamweight class, which was split off the featherweight (60 kg) class that had previously been the lightest. This was the first change in weight classes since their introduction in the 1920 Summer Olympics.
The men's 60 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place on 9 August at the Empress Hall of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. The featherweight class, which had been the lightest from their introduction in the 1920 Summer Olympics until the 1936 Summer Olympics, was now the second-lightest, with a bantamweight (56 kg) class split off into a separate competition.
The men's 67.5 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place on 10 August at the Empress Hall of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. It was the sixth time the lightweight class competition was held, all at 67.5 kg.
The men's 75 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place on 10 August at the Empress Hall of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. It was the sixth time the middleweight class competition was held, all at 75 kg.
The men's 82.5 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place on 11 August at the Empress Hall of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. It was the sixth time the light-heavyweight class competition was held, all at 82.5 kg.
The men's +82.5 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London took place on 11 August at the Empress Hall of the Earls Court Exhibition Centre. It was the sixth time the heavyweight class competition was held, all at over 82.5 kg.
The men's 56 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 25 July at Messuhalli. It was the second appearance of the bantamweight class.
The men's 60 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 25 July at Messuhalli. It was the seventh appearance of the featherweight class, and the second time the weight class featured weightlifters between 56 and 60 kg.
The men's 67.5 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 26 July at Messuhalli. It was the seventh appearance of the lightweight class.
The men's 75 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 26 July at Messuhalli. It was the seventh appearance of the middleweight class.
The men's 82.5 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 27 July at Messuhalli. It was the seventh appearance of the light heavyweight class.
The men's 90 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 27 July at Messuhalli. It was the first appearance of the middle heavyweight class. Previously all weightlifters above the light heavyweight (82.5 kg) class competed together in the heavyweight class; this new middle heavyweight class featured weightlifters between 82.5 kg and 90 kg.
The men's +90 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki took place on 27 July at Messuhalli. It was the seventh appearance of the heavyweight class, and the first at the new 90 kg weight. Previously, all weightlifters above 82.5 kg were included in the heavyweight class.
The men's 60 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place on 23 November at the Royal Exhibition Building. It was the eighth appearance of the featherweight class, and the third time the weight class featured weightlifters between 56 and 60 kg.
The men's 67.5 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place on 24 November at the Royal Exhibition Building. It was the eighth appearance of the lightweight class.
The men's 75 kg weightlifting competitions at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne took place on 24 November at the Royal Exhibition Building. It was the eighth appearance of the middleweight class.
The men's 82.5 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 light heavyweight class.
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 second appearance of the middle heavyweight class.
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.
