Moscow: Olympic hammer record-holder Sergei Litvinov has died at the age of 60, Russia's athletics federation reported on Monday.

The 1988 Olympic champion died suddenly in Sochi, where he had been coaching.

"It was an unexpected death as Litvinov, who cycled home after the practice, suddenly fell down," said a statement on the federation's official website.

"The ambulance that came at once to the scene of the accident failed to save his life."

Litvinov, who also won silver at the 1980 Moscow Olympics and was a twice world champion, set the Olympic record of 84.80 metres at the Seoul Games when he won gold.

Following his sporting retirement, Litvinov worked as a coach guiding his son Sergei Litvinov junior to bronze at the European championships in 2014.

"The All-Russian athletics federation presents its sincere condolences to all of Litvinov's relatives and friends," the federation statement added.