Matthias Biedermann has been appointed the new skeleton coach at Swiss Sliding ©IBSF

Germany's Matthias Biedermann, the former coach of Latvia's four-time world champion Martins Dukurs, has been appointed head of the Swiss skeleton team.

Biedermann will lead the skeleton department and assume responsibility as skeleton head coach, Swiss Sliding have announced.

The 33-year-old was a former skeleton pilot and world junior silver medallist for Germany.

He also won a bronze medal at the 2004 European Championships, as well as a World Cup silver medal the following year.

He started coaching the Latvian skeleton team in 2010 and has since enjoyed huge success, particularly with the dominant Dukurs brothers, Martins and Tomass.

Martins Dukurs claimed four world titles under the coaching of Matthias Biedermann ©Getty Images
Martins Dukurs claimed four world titles under the coaching of Matthias Biedermann ©Getty Images

Martins has won two Olympic silver medals and four World Championship and seven European titles.

His brother Tomass claimed a bronze medal at the 2015 World Championships.

Switzerland has not won an Olympic medal in skeleton since Turin 2006 when Gregor Stähli won men's bronze and Maya Pedersen-Bieri took women's gold.

Stähli also took a third world title in 2009.

In addition to his sporting career, Biedermann has studied at the Technical University of Dresden and the University of Hagen and in 2014 qualified as a Master of Laws.