Sprint canoeist Yuriy Cheban, Ukraine’s most decorated male Olympian, is auctioning his two gold medals and one bronze ©Getty Images

Sprint canoeist Yuriy Cheban, Ukraine's most decorated male Olympian, is auctioning his two gold medals and one bronze to support the country's war efforts amid the invasion by Russia.

"It was one of the best moments of my life that can be compared only with the birth of my child," Cheban, 36, posted about his second consecutive Olympic victory over 200 metres at Rio 2016.

"This Olympic finish left a great memory forever in the world history and in the hearts of Ukraine.

"Time to move on, I would like these medals to benefit Ukrainians once again."

All proceeds from the sales will go to Ukraine's Olympic Circle charity, according to SCP Auctions, which is conducting the sale.

Yuriy Cheban, pictured centre at London 2012, is auctioning his medals to help the Ukrainian war effort ©Getty Images
Yuriy Cheban, pictured centre at London 2012, is auctioning his medals to help the Ukrainian war effort ©Getty Images

Olympic Circle was created by sportsmen to help Mykolaiv, a city in southern Ukraine, fight Russian occupants.

Cheban won C1 500m bronze at the Beijing 2008 Olympics before winning the 200m titles at London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Cheban was involved in Tokyo 2020 as a coach.

He and boxer Vasily Lomachenko are the only men to win two Olympic gold medals for Ukraine, which began competing independently in 1994, and Cheban is the only man to win three total Olympic medals for Ukraine.

Swimmer Yana Klochkova has won the most Olympic medals for Ukraine - five, including four gold.