Norwegian swimming world champion Dale Oen dies at 26

Norwegian swimming world champion Alexander Dale Oen has died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 26, Norwegian media reported on Tuesday.

The Norwegian swimming federation says the world champion has died during a training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The Federation president Per Rune Eknes confirmed that Dale Oen died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

The federation said in a statement that the 100m breaststroke world champion was found collapsed on the floor of his bathroom on Monday. He was taken to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

“He died suddenly, without warning on Monday evening local time while with the swimming team in Flagstaff, USA,” the Olympic Committee and Norwegian Swimming Federation said in a statement.

State broadcaster NRK said the swimmer’s body had been found by a team mate.

Ola Ronsen, doctor to Norway’s elite Olympians, was quickly on the scene and an ambulance arrived shortly afterwards but Dale Oen was pronounced dead at 2100 local time.

“My thoughts go first and foremost to his family in Oygarden,” Per Rune Eknes, president of the Norwegian Swimming Federation said in a statement.

“This is the toughest day the sport of swimming in Norway has ever had.”

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

Dale Oen, who won the men’s 100 meters breaststroke gold medal at last year’s world championships in Shanghai, was Norway’s top medal hopes for the London 2012 Games.