Russia's double Olympic fencing champion Sergei Sharikov has died in a car accident, the Russian Olympic Committee said on its website Sunday.
The incident happened on Saturday evening around 100km from Moscow.
Sharikov was behind the wheel when his car moved into the oncoming lane and struck another vehicle. The 40-year-old was taken to the hospital but died from his injuries.
Sharikov was a member of the Russian fencing team from 1994 until 2004.
He won Olympic gold in 1996 and 2000 in the saber team event. In 2001, 2002 and 2003 he was crowned world champion.
Sharikov had been working as a fencing coach for the Russian national team since 2009.
