The 25-year-old crashed into defending Australian champion Matt Glaetzer and was knocked unconscious amid flying debris, receiving oxygen from medics on the street. Truman was taken to the hospital in a wheelchair after the second round of terror with Glazer’s suit torn to shreds. Six-time Olympian Sir Chris Hoy said: “It reminds us how tough these guys are and how brave you have to be.” Glaetzer was one of the stars of the dramatic Olympic keirin final in Tokyo when Jason Kenny, an England coach here, took the gold with a long-range attack. Two-time Commonwealth champion Glaetzer found himself boxed in on the penultimate lap and caught New Zealander Sam Webster’s rear wheel, hitting the deck and taking Truman down with him. Trueman returned to the track just last year after a career-threatening back injury kept him out for two years. At one stage he was in so much pain that he couldn’t put his socks on. Joe Truman was traveling at around 70 km/h when he crashed (Getty Images) The Portsmouth native is a master of the dark arts of keirin racing, with roots in Japan, spending time competing professionally in the land of the rising sun. Truman’s former roommate Jack Carlin, who won the silver, was in the race and just ahead of Webster when the crash occurred. Carlin said: “There’s nothing worse than seeing your partner crash. “Joe has a very strong will and strong character. I don’t know if I could have come back from the things he came back from and dealt with. “This is another hiccup in the road for him. He is still two years away (from Paris) and looks promising. He will come back stronger no doubt. “He’s such a talented rider and because of the consistency he lacked, he was starting to find it. “Hopefully it’s not too serious and he’ll be back on the bike in a few weeks.” Joe Truman was taken to a wheelchair after the crash (REUTERS) Gold was won by Nicholas Paul of Trinidad and Tobago, the 200m world record holder, who stole a march on the field with a surge launched with a lap to go. Carlin took second place in the shot put from Malaysia’s Shah Sahrom and Australia’s Matthew Richardson. He said: “I thought about my choice of equipment in the final. “It’s hard to put those high speeds on your own today, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. Nicholas was a worthy winner.” The 25-year-old is now Britain’s sprint standard-bearer after Kenny’s retirement, but his wait continues for a gold medal at a major international. He has won eight silver and three bronze medals at the Commonwealth, Olympic, World and European Championships. The Scot said: “It’s another silver, I came here for gold. “I compete because I enjoy competing in front of crowds, the medals are a bonus in many ways. I haven’t won a gold yet, but I’m 25, there’s still two years left in Paris and I still feel like I’m getting stronger.” Jack Carlin won silver in the men’s keel (PA file) The hosts have won ten track cycling medals here and only one of them is gold – courtesy of Scotland’s Neil Fachie. New Zealand are sweeping and have already taken five, dominating the men’s endurance events, and Australia three. Meanwhile, the purple patch in the Welsh women’s sprint continued with an individual bronze for teenager Emma Finucane. The 19-year-old won a statement victory in an epic three-race battle with England’s Sophie Capewell, one of Great Britain Cycling Team’s key riders and a world bronze medallist. Finucane added to the team sprint bronze she won on day one alongside Lowri Thomas and Rhian Edmunds. He said: “This means so much. I didn’t expect it, I went in wanting to do the flying 200 in qualifying. I left everything on the track and it paid off.” National Lottery players raise more than £30m a week for good causes, including vital funding in sport – from grassroots to elite. Find out how your numbers make amazing happen at: www.lotterygoodcauses.org.uk and get involved using the hashtag: #TNLAthletes.
