The Frenchman, considered as one of the greatest athletes in snowboarding history, has been suffering from complications due to inflammatory arthritis of the knee.

He is the reigning Olympic gold medallist after defending the title he won at Sochi 2014 at the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Games.

The 33-year-old Vaultier also won the world title in 2017 in Sierra Nevada in Spain, as well as the overall World Cup title a record six times.

He won 22 World Cup races in all and finished on the podium 35 times, which are both men's records for snowboard cross.

"After 17 months of fighting to get back on my feet from inflammatory arthritis of the knee, the indicators are still showing red," he said.

"While the pathology is still unknown, what we do know is there has been a total deterioration of the cartilage of the knee joint, leaving the only solution to be an installation of a full prosthesis, with the surgery scheduled in the coming days.

"I keep a very positive state of mind because this prosthesis will finally allow me to live normally on a day-to-day basis, after being forced to use crutches for 12 months out of the last 17 and living in permanent pain.

"The consequences of fitting a prosthesis are clear - I am obliged to limit impacts on the knee and therefore to stop the practice of competitive snowboarding.

"Even if this situation has been forced on me, it is a carefully considered decision. 

"It pushes me to look back on my journey while realising the benefits of the life experience of my career as a high-level athlete. 

"Victories, like defeats, leave me with no regrets. 

"I am a man who has been fulfilled by what fate has given me and by what I have been able to accomplish.

"I sincerely thank my wife Kadri, my family, my friends, my coaches and staff, the French Ski Federation, the army, and my partners Red Bull, the Serre Chevalier resort, Bridgestone, Bollé, SG snowboards, Nidecker and Racer. 

"Everything I have achieved would have been impossible without all of these people and entities.

"Now it's time for surgery and rehabilitation. 

"These are my priorities. 

"Then there will be the work to return to sliding on my snowboarding once again, because that is a physical and emotional need for me, and therefore essential.

"I will then take stock of my retraining options and the projects that are important to me. 

"It is already clear that my short-term projects will be carried out in the logical continuation of what I have already initiated with my partners, who have all decided to continue to support me. 

"I would like to reiterate my thanks for their support."