Olympian, 50, dies after bike crash during race

Toshiaki Fushimi made his debut in 1995 (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 Matsu