COSIER-SUR-VEVEY, Switzerland – World Champion and Olympic Champion Dan Gable will be inducted into the International Wrestling Hall of Fame, the Federation International de Luttes Associees (FILA), the international Olympic governing body for the sport of wrestling, announced today.

In 1972 Dan Gable won an Olympic Gold medal at 149.5 pounds without surrendering a point.

“For this distinct accomplishment, Gable will join Dr. Cjaba Hegedus from Hungary and Ivan Yarygin from Russia in the Legends category,” said Stan Dziedzic, Vice President of FILA and head of its Hall of Fame Commission. “Given the 2012 Olympics will be in London we seized the opportunity to recognize several nominees with an attachment to Commonwealth countries this year.”

Gable coached the University of Iowa wrestling program to 15 NCAA team titles from 1977 through 1997. He is considered the most successful collegiate wrestling coach in the United States. Gable also led several U.S. World and Olympic Freestyle Teams from 1980-2000.

Gable becomes the seventh American inducted into the FILA Hall of Fame, and the first in the Legends category. Saunders joins men’s freestyle wrestlers John Smith, Bruce Baumgartner, Kevin Jackson and Lee Kemp, along with women’s freestyle wrestler Tricia Saunders and referee Vince Zuaro in this very special Hall of Fame. 

Mario Saletnig, longtime Canadian referee, judge and FILA Vice President, will be honored in the Leadership category. Saletnig will be joined by fellow Canadians Daniel Igali and Daniel Robin.   

Baraladei Daniel Igali is the first African-born black wrestler to win World and Olympic Freestyle Gold medals for Canada. Igali won a World title in 1999 at 69 kilos and the Olympic gold medal in the 2000 Sydney Games at 74 kilograms.   

Daniel Robin wrestled for France, but has lived and coached in Canada after finishing his competitive wrestling career. Robin was a World freestyle champion in 1967 at 78 kilos and won silver medals in both freestyle and Greco-Roman at the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City, the only modern era wrestler to win medals in both styles in the same Olympics.

Gudrun Hoeie of Norway is the women’s freestyle inductee. Hoeie first entered international competition in 1987 and competed in six different weight classifications until her retirement in 2010. During her career she won World titles in 1989, ’90, ’93, and ’98. She also claimed a World Silver in 1991 and bronze in 1999. 

Mnazakan Iskandaryan of Russia claimed world titles in 1990, ’91, and ’94 in Greco-Roman. He captured an Olympic gold medal at the 1992 Barcelona Games at 74 kilograms. He is currently serving on the Russian Greco-Roman National Coaching Staff.

Italian Aldo Albanese is being recognized for his lifetime service to FILA as an international official. Albanese has worked for FILA in an official’s capacity since 1970. He serves as the Vice President of the Italian Federation for judo, karate, Mixed Martial Arts and wrestling, and is a member of the Fila Ethical and Legal Committee.

The 2012 FILA Hall of Fame induction ceremonies will take place on Friday, August 3 at the Grange St-Paul Hotel prior to the beginning of the Olympic wrestling competition in London, England.