A double Olympic gold medallist is in a serious condition in hospital after suffering horrific burns when her clothes caught fire at her luxury apartment

A double Olympic champion is fighting for her life after suffering devastating burns in a fire at her home. The 31-year-old was rushed to hospital after her clothing caught alight at her luxury flat.

Doctors are battling to save the life of Maria Shurochkina, who claimed gold in synchronised swimming at both the 2016 and 2021 Games, after she suffered potentially life-threatening complications, including burn shock, dehydration and infection in a blaze in her Moscow residence.

According to Mash, a Russian Telegram channel, her condition was initially reported as "moderate" but has since deteriorated to "serious".

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The swimming star, 31, reportedly sustained severe damage to the skin on her head, neck, chest, abdomen, arms and hands. It is believed that doctors are concerned she may have suffered tissue necrosis, the death of damaged skin and underlying tissue.

The incident took place when Shurochkina was refilling a bioethanol fireplace in her lavish four-bedroom penthouse in the Russian capital.

Her clothing was set ablaze when flammable vapours ignited. She was subsequently discovered writhing and screaming in agony in the stairwell of the building.

Shurochkina was rushed to the Sklifosovsky Emergency Research Institute in central Moscow, a facility specialising in emergency medical care and burn trauma. The Russian Aquatic Sports Federation confirmed she had been taken to hospital, according to The Sun, adding that officials had been in touch with both the medical facility and her family.

Shurochkina stepped away from competitive swimming four years ago to chase a career in entertainment, appearing in aquatic theatre productions and taking up dancing.

Reflecting on her retirement, she said: "I felt like a lost child who didn't know where to go or what to do next."

She received the Order of Friendship and the Order of Honour from Russian president Vladimir Putin in 2016 and 2021 respectively.

Earlier this year, Shurochkina took to the stage at the State Kremlin Palace in a breathtaking production, choreographed by dancer Ildar Gainutdinov.

Her half-sister, Nyusha, whose real name is Anna Shurochkina, is one of Russia's biggest pop sensations. The two siblings competed in and triumphed during the second season of the reality TV show, Treasures of the Emperor, last year.