Moscow - Cross-country skiing Olympic champion Alexei Prokurorov of Russia died on Friday in a traffic accident, police said. He was 44 years old.

Police said that Prokurorov was hit by a car when he walked across a road in the town of Vladimir, some 160 kilometres east of Moscow.

Prokurorov won 30km gold and 4x10km silver at the 1988 Olympics in Calgary. The five-time Olympian was Russia's flagbearer at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

Prokurorov also won six medals at world championships, including a 30km gold in 1997. (dpa)