Born in Ukraine to a Greek family, Ilya Mate took up wrestling in 1970 and made the Soviet national team in 1978. Wrestling as a heavyweight freestyler his entire career, Mate was the Olympic Champion in 1980, World Champion in 1979 and 1982 and European Champion in 1979. He also won the World Cup, Universiade gold and World Championships bronze in 1981 and was Soviet Champion in 1978-80 and 1982. After finishing his sporting career, Mate, who graduated from Makiïvka Civil Engineering Institute (now Donbas National Academy of Civil Engineering and Architecture) with an engineering degree, worked as an entrepreneur in Donetsk and has been active with the Donetsk Region Wrestling Federation and Greek community in Ukraine. Since 2003, an annual junior freestyle wrestling tournament named in his honor has been held in Yenakiyeve, Donetsk Oblast.
Soviet Union
Ukraine