Olympic champion wrestler Imre Polyák, 78, passed away after in incurable illness, announced the Hungarian Wrestling Federation on November 17, 2010.

After three Olympic silver medals (1952, 1956, 1960), he finally arrived to the top of the World in Tokyo, Japan in 1964 when he became Olympic champion in Greco-Roman at 63 kg. He was also three-time World Championships gold medalist (1955, 1958, 1962) and two-time runner-up in 1961 and 1963. 

After his active career, he had worked as coach in his club and the national squad as well.

In Hungary, he was elected Wrestler of the 20th Century while FILA ranked him the second best Greco-Roman wrestler of the century. In 2003 he was inducted in the FILA Hall of Fame among the very first inductees. 

The title ”Athlete of the Nation” was founded in Hungary in 2004 as due appreciation for the outstanding career of 12 former champions of various sports and Imre Polyák was selected as one of them.

The funeral arrangements of the great champion shall be organized by the Hungarian Wrestling Federation and the Hungarian Olympic Committee