The swimming star, 31, reportedly suffered acute damage to the skin on her head, neck, chest, abdomen, arms and hands.

It's claimed that doctors fear that she may have suffered tissue necrosis, which is the death of damaged skin and underlying tissue.

The incident occurred when Shurochkina was refilling a bioethanol fireplace in her luxury four-bedroom penthouse in Moscow.

Her clothes were set on fire when flammable vapours started burning. She was later found writhing and screaming in agony on the stairwell of the building.

According to The Sun, the Russian Aquatic Sports Federation confirmed that she had been hospitalised and said that officials had contacted both the hospital and her family.

Shurochkina retired from competitive swimming four years ago to pursue a career in entertainment, performing in aquatic theatre productions and taking up dancing.

Speaking after her decision to retire, she said: "I felt like a lost child who didn’t know where to go or what to do next."

Earlier this year, Shurochkina performed at the State Kremlin Palace in a spectacular production, which was choreographed by dancer Ildar Gainutdinov.

Her half-sister, Nyusha, real name Anna Shurochkina, is one of Russia’s most prominent pop stars. The two sisters competed in and won the second season of the reality TV show, Treasures of the Emperor, last year.