Janez Gorišek, pictured in Planica in 2017 ©Getty Images

Winter Olympian Janez Gorišek, the inventor of ski flying, has died at the age of 89.

The Slovenian represented Yugoslavia in ski jumping at the 1956 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, in the individual large hill event.

He was twice the student world champion and dedicated his life to designing jumping hills after his competitive career.

The Gorišek Brothers Flying Hill - designed with brother Vlado in Planica in Slovenia - remains as one of the most famous hills on the current circuit.

It has hosted the Ski Flying World Championships seven times.

Other hills that Gorišek has designed are in Norway, Italy, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Turkey, the United States, Czech Republic, Germany, Kazakhstan and Switzerland.

The Gorišek Brothers Flying Hill in Planica is one of the most famous on the circuit ©Getty Images
The Gorišek Brothers Flying Hill in Planica is one of the most famous on the circuit ©Getty Images

His new discipline of ski flying, performed on bigger hills than ski jumping and where much longer distances can be achieved, was officially recognised by the International Ski Federation (FIS) in 1971.

He received many awards during his career, including a certificate of honour from the Slovenian Olympic Committee.

"Without him and his bold ideas, the development of ski jumping and ski flying would be quite different," the FIS said in a tribute.

"FIS would like to express its sincerest condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Janez Gorišek, whose dedicated work will be long remembered."