British Olympic swimming champion David Wilkie has died at the age of 70.

His family announced that Scottish swimming star Wilkie, who won gold for Great Britain in the 200-meter breaststroke in Montreal in 1976, died peacefully on Wednesday morning following his battle with cancer.

In a statement released to the PA news agency, Wilkie’s family said: “It is with great sadness that the family of David Wilkie MBE announce that he passed away peacefully surrounded by family this morning following his brave battle with cancer.”

Wilkie won gold in the 200 m breaststroke in Montreal in 1976, as well as two Olympic silver medals and three world championship titles.

Born in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1954 to Scottish parents, Wilkie won his first major medal representing Scotland with a bronze medal at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.

He won his first gold medal at the World Championships in Belgrade in 1973 and two years later he won both the 100 m and 200 m breaststroke titles in Cali.

Wilkie was crowned Olympic champion after an extraordinary performance in Montreal, where he broke the existing world record by over three seconds.

This record, one of five he set during his career, would stand for five years, but Wilkie made no attempt to beat it, retiring one month after the Games at the age of 22.

Wilkie was awarded an MBE in 1977 and went on to become a successful businessman. He leaves behind his wife Helen and children Natasha and Adam.

Adam Wilkie said: “My father was a truly wonderful man, father and husband. He achieved so much in his life and those who knew him will never forget his love of life, his kindness and his wonderful sense of humour.”