Seven places have been reserved for the host nation China. The remaining spots are allocated through the qualification process, wherein the athletes earn places for their respective nation. FILA also determined that at the continental championships, only nations which entered an athlete at each weight class at the 2007 World Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan were eligible to qualify their nation for the Olympics at that weight.
^ abcdefghijkSeven quotas (sex not specified) were allocated to the 2008 Oceania Championships.
^ abOn 9 August 2008, Anatolie Guidea ruptured his Achilles tendon and could not compete in the event. The Bulgarian Wrestling Federation has asked another Bulgarian wrestler, Ismail Redzhep, to replace Guidia, but he was involved in a car accident, prompting him not to compete. Eventually, the freed spot was taken by Mike Zadick from the United States.[1]
^ abPéter Módos withdrew from the Olympics for medical reasons only few days before the competition, the quota went to the freestyle wrestler Grégory Sarrasin from Switzerland.[2]
^Richard Addinall from South Africa originally won the quota as the highest ranked eligible wrestler, but South Africa rejected the quota, therefore the quota went to Augusto Midana, the next best eligible wrestler.
^Davit Modzmanashvili from Georgia originally earned the quota, but tested positive for a banned substance.
^Maher Bouthouri from Tunisia originally earned the quota as the highest ranked eligible wrestler, but Tunisia rejected the quota, the next NOC South Africa also rejected it. with no more eligible wrestlers left, the quota went to the 2008 African Champion from Egypt.
^The Court of Arbitration for Sport decided that all results obtained by Stadnik between 26 April 2006 and 25 April 2008 must be disqualified,[3] however Azerbaijan was allowed to keep the quota.
^ abTunisia rejected the quota, the quota went to the last world qualification tournament.
^Sabrine Mathlouthi from Tunisia originally won the quota as the highest ranked eligible wrestler, but Tunisia rejected the quota, therefore the quota went to Annabelle Ali, the next best eligible wrestler.