Alexander-Dale Oen-Obituary

Alexander Dale Oen

Obituary

STOCKHOLM (AP) - Alexander Dale Oen, a world champion swimmer who was one of Norway's top medal hopes for the London Olympics, died during a training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona. He was 26.

The president of the Norwegian swimming federation, Per Rune Eknes, told The Associated Press in a phone interview that Dale Oen died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

In a statement, the federation said the 100-meter breaststroke world champion was found collapsed on the floor of his bathroom late Monday. He was taken to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

"We're all in shock," Norway Coach Petter Loevberg said. "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."

Hospital spokeswoman Starla Collins confirmed the death, but did not provide further details.

Dale Oen earned his biggest triumph in the pool at last year's worlds in Shanghai when he won the 100 breaststroke, a victory that provided some much-needed joy back in Norway just three days after the massacre by right-wing extremist Anders Breivik that killed 77 people - including children at a summer camp.

Dale Oen dedicated the win to the victims of that massacre, pointing to the Norwegian flag on his cap after the finish to send a message back home.

"We need to stay united," he said after the race. "Everyone back home now is of course paralyzed 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."

His death dominated the news in Norway on Monday, and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said on Twitter that "Alexander Dale Oen was a great sportsman for a small country. My thoughts go to his family and friends."

The Norwegian team is holding a camp in Flagstaff ahead of the Olympics. The federation said Dale Oen had only underwent a light train ing session on Monday and played golf that day. But teammates became worried when the swimmer spent an unusually long time in the shower and entered his bathroom when he failed to respond to their knocks on the door.

The federation said "they found Dale Oen laying partly on the floor, partly on the edge of his bathtub."

Team doctor Ola Roensen said he immediately began performing CPR until an ambulance arrived.

"Everything was done according to procedure, and we tried everything, so it is immensely sad that we were not able to resuscitate him," Roensen said. "It is hard to accept."

In his last tweet on Monday, Dale Oen said he was looking forward to going back home: "2 days left of our camp up here in Flagstaff, then it's back to the most beautiful city in Norway... (hashtag)Bergen."

Dale Oen was born in Bergen, Norway's second largest city, on May 21, 1985. He was the second son of Mona Lillian Dale and Ingolf Oen.

He started swimming at 4 , and said on his website that the sport "came very easy and natural for me."

He is the second high-profile athlete to die from cardiac arrest recently, after Italian soccer player Piermario Morosini collapsed on the field during a Serie B game for Livorno last month. That death came just a month after Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba also collapsed during a game, but survived.

"It feels unreal that Alexander Dale Oen is no longer with us," Norwegian skiing champion Aksel Lund Svindal, the two-time overall world Cup champion, said on Twitter. "My thoughts go out to his family, friends and his whole team in Flagstaff."

Keri-Anne Payne, the 10-kilometer open water world champion from Britain, said: "Such sad news for swimming."

LOUISE NORDSTROM, Associated Press

AP Sports Writers Andrew Dampf in Rome and Pat Horne in New York contributed to this report.


Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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To the OEN family sorry for your loss may GOD give you his love, peace, and strength in this time of sorrow. Such a young age and a goal to complete. I am sure he is missed by his fellow swim team. May he R.I.P -|-

My heart goes out to you at this time and in the days ahead. May your memories and love of family, friends and neighbors bring you comfort. God will one day swallow up death and wipe the tears from all faces. Please accept my deepest sympathies.

Any life lost is a saddened time, and since I used to swim year round, and I don't have to know AD Oen personally but in the world of swimming it's a close knit family no matter throughout the world where swimmers all live. My heartfelt condolences are sent out to his family, as well as his swimming family. If he had any pets, to them too for they miss their best friend.
I'm in the US, but I hope the Norwegian Olympic Team thinks up an idea in honor of their team mate with something to...

Our thoughts will always be with Alex's followers, you will always be a gem of the world in our book you have won gold. As a parent Mom & Dad things will get better. God Bless!

L&J. NY

Dale Oen was my favorite Norwegian swimmer. My family's roots are in Norway so he represented my Mother land. I was looking forward to watching him again in London, but it was not to be. My heart broke when I read the news. May God hold all of Aleander Dale Oen's family and friends in the palm of his hand. Gone too soon.

Although I do not personally know Alexander, condolences to the Oen family and friends. A prayer goes out for all of you at this time. May God comfort you as you grieve.