Norwegian Olympic-hopeful Alexander Dale Oen, 26, dies in Arizona

Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale Oen died in Arizona Monday. (AP)

Norwegian swimmer Alexander Dale Oen, one of Norway’s top swimming prospects ahead of this summer’s London Olympics, died Monday night after collapsing in his Flagstaff, Ariz. bathroom. He was 26 years old.

Oen was in Arizona with his Norwegian teammates for a training camp. He had participated in a light training session earlier and played golf earlier in the day, according to the Norwegian swimming federation. Oen was found by his teammates on the floor of his bathroom after they became suspicious when he took an unusually long time in the shower. He died from cardiac arrest.

Oen was well-known in Norway for finishing first in the 100 breaststroke in last year’s world championships in Shanghai just three days after extremist Anders Breivik went on a rampage in which he allegedly massacred 77 people, many of whom were children. Oen dedicated his victory to the victims of that massacre.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg addressed Oen’s death on Twitter, tweeting: Alexander Dale Oen was a great sportsman for a small country. My thoughts go to his family and friends.

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