Bader - widely known by his nickname “Pepi” - passed away at hospital in Garmisch-Partenkirchen last Saturday (October 30), the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation reported.

Competing for West Germany, Bader partnered with pilot Horst Floth in the two-man event at Grenoble 1968.

There was a tie for first place in the event with Italy’s Eugenio Monti and Luciano de Paolis and officials initially ruled that both teams would be awarded gold medals.

But, several hours after the event finished, judges decided to award the sole gold to the Italian team based on their fastest single heat time.

Floth and Bader combined again four years later, at Sapporo 1972, and again had to settle for the silver medals as they finished behind West German team-mates Wolfgang Zimmerer and Peter Utzschneider.

In between, Floth and Bader had won the gold medals at the 1970 World Championships in St Mortiz.

At the same Championships, Bader had been drafted in late to West Germany’s four-man team for an injured team-mate and helped them win a silver medal.