Martins Dukurs will seek the first Olympic title of his glittering career ©Getty Images

Latvia's Martins Dukurs will seek his maiden Olympic gold medal when men's skeleton competition begins tomorrow at the Xiaohaituo Bobsleigh and Luge Track.

Dukurs has earned six World Championship and 12 European titles during his glittering career, but the Olympic title has eluded the 37-year-old to date.

He finished as the silver medallist at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, before ending as the fourth-placed competitor at Pyeongchang 2018.

Dukurs had briefly looked set to be upgraded to Sochi 2014 gold when Alexander Tretiakov was implicated in the Russian doping scandal, only for the decision to be overturned at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

Dukurs heads into Beijing 2022 as the reigning men's World Cup champion, having won the overall title for the 11th time in 13 seasons.

He could face competition from Tretiakov.

"The ice is harder and faster than when we were here the previous time and definitely won't be slow in the race," Dukurs said following his training runs.

"I don't think about my past wins because that's a different race.

"That I won some previous races doesn't give me any benefit, or mean that I will be leader up there.

"I'm more focusing on my runs and I'm not thinking what others think."

World Cup champion Kimberley Bos will by a contender for the women's title ©Getty Images
World Cup champion Kimberley Bos will by a contender for the women's title ©Getty Images

Tretiakov will expect to challenge Dukurs, with the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) athlete returning to the Winter Olympics after being prevented from competing at Pyeongchang 2018.

Tretiakov had been prevented from competing at the Games by the Olympic Athlete from Russia Implementation Group.

Germany’s Axel Jungk and Christopher Grotheer will be among the other medal contenders, as well as Martins Dukurs' brother Tomass.

The successor to Lizzy Yarnold will be crowned in the women’s event, with the British star having retired after Pyeongchang 2018.

The Netherlands’ Kimberley Bos will be among the contenders for gold after finishing top of the women’s World Cup standings.

Germany will have high hopes with reigning world champion Tina Hermann and Jacqueline Lölling among their team for the event.

Sochi 2014 bronze medallist Elena Nikitina will be the leading ROC representative, while Janine Flock of Austria will hope to improve on her fourth place at Pyeongchang 2018.