Kirsty mourns Dale Oen

during a training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States.
He was found collapsed in a shower late on Monday after training in Flagstaff, Norwegian media say.
Emergency services arrived at the scene within minutes but were unable to revive him.
Dale Oen won gold in the 100m breaststroke at the World Championships in Shanghai in July 2011.
His triumph came just days after the attack in Norway by Anders Behring Breivik which killed 77 people.
And Zimbabwe’s swimming icon Coventry yesterday expressed shock over the untimely death of fellow Olympian Dale Oen.
Coventry tweeted: “My thoughts are with Alexander Dale Oen’s family. He was an amazing swimmer and loved watching his performance at World Champs last year.”
The 28-year-old Zimbabwean swimmer was joined by a number of other top world swimmers and officials in mourning Dale Oen yesterday.
Reaction to the death of Dale Oen:
“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.” — Norway coach Petter Loevberg.
“In shock over the passing of a dear friend and great rival. RIP Alex.” — Japanese swimmer Kosuke Kitajima on Twitter.
“You will be remembered for giving Norway hope on one of its darkest days, RIP Alexander Dale Oen.” — Austrian backstroker Markus Rogan on Twitter.
“Alexander Dale Oen was a great sportsman for a small country. My thoughts go to his family and friends.” — Norway Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg on Twitter.
“It feels unreal that Alexander Dale Oen is no longer with us. My thoughts go out to his family, friends and his whole team in Flagstaff.” — Norway’s skiing champion Aksel Lund Svindal on Twitter.
“You see a kid in his prime and never think anything like that could happen. All of a sudden, they’re gone. You can’t help but feel sad. It looks so unfair. We’re supposed to be these amazing athletes. It’s just a shame,” — American breaststroker Brendan Hansen in a telephone interview with The Associated Press.
“The international swimming family is small and tightly bonded, so it is always difficult when we lose one of our own. It is especially shocking in the case of a young, promising athlete in the prime of his life. His memory will live with us for years to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Norwegian federation and Alexander’s family and friends.” — Dennis Pursley, British Swimming head coach, in a statement.
“Rest in peace Alex Dale Oen, you were a true champion, one that I truly admired… My sincere regards to his family and to Norway.” — Olympian Milorad Cavic of Serbia on Twitter.
“RIP my friend, Alexander Dale Oen. One of the best breaststrokers of all time. You will be missed. So so sad.” — Eamon Sullivan of Australia, the former 100-meter freestyle world record holder, on Twitter.
“Such sad news for swimming, Alexander Dale Oen passed away y’day,1 00 breast World Champ! My thoughts are with his family.” — Keri-Anne Payne, the 10-kilometre Open water world champion from Britain, on Twitter.
Dale Oen’s last tweet on Monday, as he was coming to the end of training in the US, said: “2 days left of our camp up here in Flagstaff, then it’s back to the most beautiful city in Norway #Bergen”.
Dale Oen was born in Bergen, Norway’s second largest city, and began swimming at the age of four.
He got his international breakthrough in 2005 when he came seventh in the 100m breaststroke during the World Aquatics Championships in Montreal, Canada.
He won silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Norway’s first Olympic swimming medal, and was considered a strong hope for this summer’s London Games. After winning his gold medal in Shanghai, he said that the murders of 77 people in Oslo and on the island of Utoeya had affected him deeply. “We can’t let this guy ruin the future for us,” he said.