Argentina's four-time Olympic medal winner in sailing, Carlos Espinola, was appointed new sports minister Wednesday by President Cristina Fernandez.

The appointment was published in the Government Gazette.

In December, Espinola, 42, concluded his four-year mandate as mayor of Corrientes, capital of the same-named province in northern Argentina.

Last year, Espinola ran for governor of Corrientes, but lost to Ricardo Colombi.

Espinola has won the most Olympic medals in the history of Argentine sailing, winning silver medals in men's sailing at the 1996 Atlanta Games and 2000 Sydney Games (Mistral Class), and bronze medals at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 (Tornado Class).

As sports secretary he took over from former soccer player Claudio Morresi, who held the post since July 2004.

Morresi, 51, a former player with River Plate, was appointed secretary of the National Sports and Physical Activity Committee, a new agency that's part of the Argentine presidency.