The regional Government website said the 29-year-old bobsledder was traveling from Krasnoyarsk, in Eastern Siberia, to Zheleznogorsk to visit his parents when his Honda Accord was involved in a head-on collision with another car.

The driver of the second vehicle was also killed in the accident, the statement added.

"Today, near the village of Podgorny, Russian National Bobsleigh Team member Nikolay Khrenkov died," the Ministry said on their website.

"We express our deep condolences to the family of Nikolay."

"Nikolai [Khrenkov] was a real professional and a great athlete," Alexei Voyevoda, his teammate on the Russian national bobsleigh team, told The Moscow Times.

Nikolay Khrenkov, killed in a car accident, is pictured with his Russia 3 team-mates in the bobsleigh at the Sochi 2014 Winter Games ©Getty Images

"He didn't fear death.

"He lived life at its fullest, enjoying every moment.

"His death is a great loss."

Khrenkov was a member of the Russia-3 sled that finished 15th in the four-man bobsleigh at Sochi 2014. 

He was also a member of the four-man crew led by Alexandr Zubkov which won silver medals at the 2011 and 2012 Bobsleigh European Championships.

His best World Cup finish was first in the four-man event at Park City, Utah in December 2010.

He also finished second in a four-man World Cup race at Whistler Sliding Centre in February 2012.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


Related stories
May 2014: Double Sochi 2014 bobsleigh champion in hospital after confronting attackers