Double Olympic Alpine skiing champion Rosi Mittermaier has died at the age of 72 ©Getty Images

International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach has led the tributes to double Olympic Alpine skiing champion Rosi Mittermaier following her death at the age of 72.

A statement from Mittermaier’s family confirmed that the German skiing great died peacefully after a "serious illness".

Mittermaier captured the downhill and slalom crowns at the Innsbruck 1976 Olympic Winter Games, earning her the nickname 'Gold-Rosi'.

She also picked up giant slalom silver at the Games and won the women's world combined title in 1976 following her success in Innsbruck.

After a career that included 10 World Cup wins, Mittermaier retired at the end of the 1975-76 season aged 25.

Mittermaier married three-time Olympian Christian Neureuther in 1980 and had two children, including three-time world slalom medallist Felix Neureuther.

Bach, a former head of the German Olympic Sports Confederation, described Mittermaier as an inspirational person.

"Rosi Mittermaier was a very charming and credible ambassador of sport, who always approached people openly and in a humble way," said Bach.

"She inspired all of us with her warmth and her smile. 

"For all these reasons, and not only because of her two Olympic gold medals, she will always be remembered as 'Gold-Rosi' by all of us.

"Personally, it was a great pleasure for me to experience her warmth and her natural dedication to sport since we got to know each other in 1976.

"Therefore, I very much appreciated the cooperation with her as a founding personal member of the German Olympic Sports Confederation.

"My thoughts are with her family, who was everything to her, and to whom I send my deepest condolences."

Germany’s double Olympic champion Markus Wasmeier was among others to pay tribute to Mittermaier.

"We have lost a fantastic person," said the former skier.

"Rosi had a heart as big as a bus, she was always there for everyone - that was unique.

"You won't find someone like that again, she leaves a huge gap."

Ilse Aigner, head of the Bavarian State Parliament, added: "Rosi Mittermaier was an exceptional ski racer.

"Even after her skiing career, she was an exceptional personality and popular figure - always active, always committed, both sportingly and socially."