Egon Zimmermann won downhill gold at the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck ©Getty Images

The International Ski Federation (FIS) has paid tribute to Olympic alpine skiing champion Egon Zimmermann, who has died at the age of 80.

Austrian Zimmermann won downhill gold at the 1964 Winter Olympic Games in Innsbruck, while also claiming FIS Alpine World Ski Championships gold in Chamonix, France, in 1962.

The FIS said: "FIS would like to express its deepest condolences to the Austrian Ski Federation and all family members, friends and loved ones of Egon Zimmermann."

Zimmermann celebrated countless FIS victories at the historic venues of Kitzbühel, Val d’Isère, Wengen and Sestrière.

He was awarded the "Skier d'Or" in 1963 as the outstanding skier of the season and received the Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria in 1966.

Egon Zimmermann, second right, relit the 1964 Olympic cauldron ahead of the 2012 Youth Winter Olympics in Innsbruck ©Innsbruck 2012
Egon Zimmermann, second right, relit the 1964 Olympic cauldron ahead of the 2012 Youth Winter Olympics in Innsbruck ©Innsbruck 2012

Zimmermann was also honoured by the Austrian Ski Federation, which awarded him the Great Golden Sports Medal.

In 2012, Zimmermann, who had multiple sclerosis, relit the 1964 Olympic cauldron at the Opening Ceremony for the first Youth Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.