Alongside Arvis Vilkaste, Daumants Dreiškens and Jānis Strenga, Melbārdis triumphed in the four-man bobsleigh event at the Games in the Russian city seven years ago.

He also picked up a bronze medal in the two-man event at Sochi 2014 with Dreiškens, and did the same again with Strenga at Pyeongchang 2018.

At the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Championships, Melbārdis earned his first podium finish in the four-man competition at Lake Placid 2009, repeating the feat at Winterberg six years later to go with a silver in the two-man.

His maiden world title came at Igis 2016 as he helped Latvia clinch gold in the four-man.

Melbārdis had earlier won two four-man golds at the European Championships in 2008 and 2015.

His last appearance at an international competition for Latvia came at the IBSF World Championships in Altenberg in February this year as his country finished eighth.

The Latvian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation said that Melbārdis underwent back surgery this summer, and was advised by doctors to consider finishing his career.

"This decision has not come easily or quickly, but the time has come when I have to hang my professional sports shoes on a nail in the wall," Melbārdis said in a post on Instagram.

"I have had this great opportunity to do what I love and enjoy the sweet taste of victory and experience painful losses with you."

The former Olympic champion thanked members of his support staff, including his sports teacher Mārīte Bisniece, his first coach Baiba Kaufmane and his physio Arnis Noveičuk.

"The greatest support in sharing the tears of joys and sorrows has come from family and relatives, so thank you very much for their contribution and support during my career as an athlete," Melbārdis added.

The National Federation expressed "its greatest appreciation and gratitude to Oskars Melbārds for dedicating more than half his life to bobsleigh."