World champion, Alexander Dale Oen dies in a training camp in United States - Swimming News
Norwegian veteran and reigning world champion, Alexander Dale Oen was found dead during his training session in Flagstaff, Arizona.
The 26-year-old Dale Oen, who was the prime hope of Norway for winning gold medal at the 2012 London Olympic Games, was found on the floor of his bathroom and later on was declared dead.
He represented his county at numerous international levels. He won a bronze medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2006 World Short Course Championships while accomplished a silver medal in the same discipline at the 2008 Beijing Olympics Games.
With his gruelling efforts, Oen excelled in his main event and captured gold medal of the event at the 2012 European Long Course Championships in Budapest.
Recently, he stunned the aquatic crowd with his phenomenal form at the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, where he upset his challengers and seized the title of the 100m discipline in a time of 58.71 seconds.
Following that, he dominated the same event at the 2011 European Short Course Championships while also captured a bronze medal in the 50m breaststroke.
According to an article by AP, Federation President Per Rune Eknes stated that the Norwegian star suffered a heart attack.
The swimming coach to Norway’s team, Petter Loevberg said, “We're all in shock. This is an out-of-the-body experience for the whole team over here. Our thoughts primarily go to his family who have lost Alexander way too early.”
“We need to stay united. Everyone back home now is of course paralysed with what happened but it was important for me to symbolize that even though I'm here in China, I'm able to feel the same emotions,” he added.
Ola Roensen, team doctor, declared that he did everything in compliance with the standard procedure and it is hard to admit that they were unable to save him.
Furthermore, an autopsy was performed to find the cause of cardiac arrest but its results have not been publicised yet and it still remains a mystery, what led the world champion die of a heart attack.
On the other hand, Japan’s Kosuke Kitajima and USA’s Brendan Hansen send their early tributes to Oen’s family.
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