The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the highest civilian honour in the US.

The honour can be awarded by the President to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavours.

Gable will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom today, following a successful career as a wrestler and as a coach.

The White House described Gable as "undoubtedly one of the greatest wrestlers of all time."

He competed for Iowa State University, where he became a two-time NCAA wrestling champion, three-time All-American, and three-time Big Eight champion.

Gable ended his college career with a record of 117 victories and a single defeat.

He claimed gold at the Cali 1971 Pan American Games and World Championships in Sofia, before becoming Olympic champion at Munich 1972.

Following his wrestling career, Gable became coach at the University of Iowa and led the team to 15 NCAA national team titles.

His teams achieved a record of 355 wins and 21 defeats from 1976 to 1997.

Gable coached 152 All-Americans, 45 national and 106 Big Ten champions, as well as 12 Olympians.

He served as a coach at five Olympic Games and six World Championship teams.

The 72-year-old is one of only six people to be inducted into the United World Wrestling Hall of Fame in the legend category.

He is also in the United States of America Wrestling Hall of Fame, the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Gable was named the ‘Nation’s Outstanding Wrestler’ by the Amateur Athletic Union and the United States Wrestling Federation.

He was deemed to be Iowa’s top sports figure in the past 100 years by ESPN.

Golfer Tiger Woods and former Major League Baseball player Marino Rivera are among sporting stars to have received the honour, with both recipients last year.

Basketball stars Kareem Adbul-Jabbar and Michael Jordan were among recipients during Barack Obama’s tenure in the White House, along with tennis icon Billie Jean King.

Golfer Jack Nicklaus and boxing legend Muhammad Ali received the honour from George W Bush.