The 60-year-old was voted to remain in the role until 2024, having first been elected in 2009. 

He was the only candidate to stand for election, as reported by Russian state news agency TASS. 

The vote took place during a Russian Swimming Federation conference in Kazan. 

Salnikov, nicknamed the "Monster of the Waves", was considered one of the greatest swimmers of all time before entering into sports governance. 

The Russian claimed three gold medals at the Moscow 1980 Games boycotted by the United States and a further one at Seoul 1988.

He also became the first person to swim the 1500m freestyle in under 15 minutes.

Salnikov was re-elected to the International Swimming Federation (FINA) Bureau in 2017, despite failing to be nominated by the European Swimming Federation, and is a member of the Russian Olympic Committee Executive Board. 

His tenure at the helm of the Russian Swimming Federation has been overshadowed by allegations of doping. 

Seven of the 37-strong Russian squad for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games were declared ineligible by FINA following the publication of the McLaren Report into Russian doping.

They were granted permission to compete just days before competition began, however, following successful appeals to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

More than 20 Russian swimmers have been handed doping bans since Salnikov was first elected to his post in 2009.

This includes Yuliya Efimova, a six-time world champion and three-time Olympic medallist, who tested positive for anabolic steroids in 2013 and was banned for 16 months. 

The 28-year-old Efimova was among the swimmers initially declared ineligible for Rio 2016.