Prihoda skied for Australia at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo, taking part in the men’s slalom and giant slalom races.

That was six years after Prihoda and his sister Sasha - herself already an Olympian - fled from what was then the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

Sasha had made her escape after the 1948 Winter Olympics in St Moritz, where she placed ninth in the women’s Alpine combined.

The Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) has led tributes to Prihoda, who later ran a souvenir shop in Thredbo in New South Wales, volunteered at a local museum and is reported to have only stopped skiing aged 90.

Thredbo is one of Australia’s premier ski locations.

"Frank was a much-loved figure in Australian winter sport," AOC President Ian Chesterman said.

"He was a trailblazer.

"I had the great pleasure of catching up with Frank for his birthday this year and he was immensely proud of the progress winter sport has made in Australia over the years.

"He maintained a great love of winter sports and the Olympic Movement throughout his life and he was very much engaged with the efforts of our current athletes.

"Frank came to this country as a young man at a turbulent time in his country of birth and we are so grateful that he made Australia his home. He had a remarkable life but was very humble about his achievements.

"He will be very much missed by the entire winter community."