Meinhard Nehmer becomes the first person from bobsleigh to be inducted into the Hall of Fame ©Getty Images

Bobsleigh legend Meinhard Nehmer has become the first sliding athlete to be entered into the German Sport Hall of Fame.

The triple Olympic gold medal winning pilot won the four-man titles at both Innsbruck 1976 and Lake Placid 1980.

He also won the two-man title in Innsbruck and a bronze in the smaller sled in Lake Placid.

A glittering career also featured four World Championship medals, including four-man gold at St Moritz, Switzerland in 1977.

All of his titles were won under the flag of the old East Germany.

Nehmer, who is one of 16 new members of the Hall of Fame, went into coaching after his competitive career in the sport finished.

Canoeing's Birgit Fischer is among those to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame
Canoeing's Birgit Fischer is among those to have been inducted into the Hall of Fame ©Getty Images

He guided the Italian and American teams, helping US pilot Brian Shimer to World Championship bronze in Igles in 1993, and worked as a track coach for his home Federation.

The Hall of Fame contains the elite of German sport, including luminaries such as tennis legend Steffi Graf, who won 22 Grand Slam singles titles and the Seoul 1988 Olympic title during her career.

Canoeist Birgit Fischer, who has won eight Olympic gold medals, is another to have been recognised.