Olympic hammer champion 'suddenly fell' and died on ride home

Sergei Litvinov is seen in this file photo. (source: Russian track and field federation)

MOSCOW -- Sergei Litvinov, the 1988 Olympic gold medallist in the men's hammer throw, has died. He was 60.

The Russian track and field federation said in a statement that Litvinov "suddenly fell" from his bicycle while riding back from a practice session in the southern city of Sochi.

The federation said an ambulance crew "arrived immediately after being called but was unable to save him."

Litvinov was a two-time world champion in the hammer throw and also won Olympic silver in 1980. He remains the Olympic record holder after throwing 84.80 metres to win the gold medal in Seoul, South Korea, in 1988 during a Soviet podium sweep.

Litvinov later coached athletes including his son, also named Sergei Litvinov, who is a former European bronze medallist in the hammer.