Olympic medalist Toshiaki Fushimi died Sunday from injuries sustained in a crash during a keirin race in Japan. The 50-year-old Japanese cyclist suffered fractures to his cervical vertebrae and skull after colliding with a safety barrier during Saturday’s Matsusaka Keirin race. Since Fushimi’s professional debut in 1995, he has won 619 races, including the Keirin Grand Prix in 2001 and 2007. He also won a silver medal in the team sprint with teammates Tomohiro Nagatsuka and Masaki Inoue at the 2004 Athens Olympics. In Japan, keirin—a type of sprint cycling—is a popular betting sport. The Japan Keirin Association (JKA) confirmed his death at 10:15 a.m. on Sunday. “It is truly heartbreaking that he lost his life in an accident during a race,” JKA chairman Hiroshi Kido said. “We will reconfirm our safety measures and thoroughly ensure fair and safe races.”
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