This freestyle wrestling competition consists of a single-elimination tournament, with a repechage used to determine the winner of two bronze medals. The two finalists face off for gold and silver medals. Each wrestler who loses to one of the two finalists moves into the repechage, culminating in a pair of bronze medal matches featuring the semifinal losers each facing the remaining repechage opponent from their half of the bracket.
The medals for the competition were presented by Habu Ahmed Gumel, IOC member, Nigeria, and the gifts were presented by Karl-Martin Dittmann, United World Wrestling board member.