Vasily Kudinov has died at the age of 47 ©IHF

The International Handball Federation (IHF) has paid tribute after the death of Russian Olympic, world and European champion Vasily Kudinov at the age of 47.

Kudinov, who won two Olympic gold medals at Barcelona 1992 and Sydney 2000, died on February 11 with the cause not revealed.

started his playing career at Dinamo Astrakhan in Russia before moving to France to play for US Ivry HB.

He then moved to Germany where he played for VfL Hameln and SC Magdeburg, before returning to Astrakhan in 2004.

As a club player, he won the Soviet Championship in 1990 with Astrakhan, the French Championship in 1997 and the German Championship in 2001.

In 1989 he topped the podium with the Soviet Union at the Men’s Junior World Championship in Spain.

Vasily Kudinov won two Olympic gold medals at Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004 ©Getty Images
Vasily Kudinov won two Olympic gold medals at Barcelona 1992 and Athens 2004 ©Getty Images

At his first Olympic Games in 1992 in Barcelona, he won gold with the Unified Team, followed by the World Championship title with Russia in 1993.

After becoming 1996 European champion, he won another World Championship gold medal at Japan 1997 and was runner-up at the 1999 World Championship.

Kudinov then doubled his Olympic gold medal tally with victory at Sydney 2000 before adding a bronze at Athens 2004.

When his career as a player came to an end, he continued as a coach in Astrakhan at Zarya Kaspiya.

"On behalf of the International Handball Federation, IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa would like to convey his deepest condolences to Vasily Kudinov’s family and friends and the Russian Handball Federation," a statement on the IHF's website read.