Olympian, 50, dies after bike crash during race

Toshiaki Fushimi made his debut in the 1990s (Picture: Getty Images/Matsusaka Keirin)

One of Japan’s most successful cyclists has died aged 50.

Toshiaki Fushimi was racing in the Matsusaka Keirin tournament in Matsusaka,a town in Mie Prefecture,when he crashed on Saturday.

While making his way from the back of the pack,the Olympic silver medallist was forced to swerve after riders ahead of him collided.

He crashed into a safety barrier and suffered fractures to his cervical vertebrae,the delicate part of the spine in the neck,and skull.

Fushimi was taken to hospital but died this morning at 10.15am,the Japan Keirin Autorace Foundation (JKA),which governs the sport,said.

Speaking ahead of the race,Fushimi said he felt a ‘strong determination’ to make it to the S-class final of the Matsusaka Keirin.

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Start your day informed with Metro's News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.The former Olympic silver medallist (in black) lost control after riders ahead of him got into an accident (Picture: Matsusaka Keirin)Fushimi won silver in 2004 (Picture: Getty Images Europe)‘The final race will be a tough one,’ he said in a YouTube video posted by Matsusaka Keirin on Friday,after winning several races that day.‘But I just want to give it my all so that I have no regrets.’Fushimi,from Fukushima Prefecture,made his professional keirin debut in 1995,going on to win 619 of the 2,423 races he competed in.He won the top KEIRIN Grand Prix twice,in 2001 and 2007,and bagged five G1 titles.Fushimi represented Japan at the 2004 Athens Olympics,winning a silver in the men’s team sprint with Tomohiro Nagatsuka and Masaki Inoue.After not racing for four years,Fushimi staged a comeback in May at the Hiratsuka G1 Japan Championship.

Cyclists vow to ‘work hard’ in honour of dead teammate

Fushimi told tournament organisers that he wanted to ‘give it his all’ (Picture: Matsusaka Keirin LIVE/YouTube)Keirin,Japanese for ‘racing track’,sees riders tailing behind a pacer on a motorised electric bike who gradually speeds up over three laps.Once there’s just 700m or so left,the pacer leaves the track and the cyclists,called sprinters,then race as fast as they can to the finish line.JKA chairman Hiroshi Kido said: ‘It is truly heartbreaking that he lost his life in an accident during a race.‘We will reconfirm our safety measures and thoroughly ensure fair and safe races.’Keirin racer Yudai Nitta told reporters that he had called Fushimi his friend since school and considered him his mentor.He said: ‘He was the one who taught me what it means to be able to participate in the Olympics.Fushimi,Masaki Inoue and Tomohiro Nagatsuka during the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. (Picture: Tim de Waele/Corbis/Getty Images)‘He also taught me how to behave when competing as a keirin racer.Fushimi was someone who always sought results.‘Those of us who are left behind want to respond by producing results. I think that would make him happy.’While Nitta was worried about Fushimi’s fall,his death not being in the morning papers put him at ease.‘We were saying that even if he was injured,his life was not in danger,’ he said.‘…So when I heard [he had died] after the race,I was really shocked.’Shoko Inoue,who raced with Fushimi on Japan’s national keirin team,said he had long looked up to Fushimi.‘He was very serious and had a solid way of thinking,so there were times when I was concerned about him,’ he said at the press conference.‘All that we who are left can do is work hard,and we have no choice but to show him that we can do that.’Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at .For more stories like this,check our news page.