Alexander Dale Oen

Dale Oen won his first international medal when he placed second in the 100 m breaststroke at the 2003 European Junior Championships in Glasgow, becoming the first Norwegian male swimmer to win a medal at an international championship. He made his senior European Championships debut at the 2004 championships in Madrid and competed in the 100 m breaststroke event at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens.{{Cite web |last=Cazeneuve |first=Brian |date=2012-05-03 |title=Dale Oen's death shocks Olympic world |url=https://www.si.com/more-sports/2012/05/03/dale-oen-us-wrestling |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}

In 2005, Dale Oen got his international breakthrough when he placed seventh and fourth in the 100 m breaststroke at the 2005 World Championships in Quebec and 2005 European Short Course Championships in Trieste respectively.{{Cite news |date=2012-05-01 |title=London 2012: Norwegian swimming champion Alexander Dale Oen dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17908737 |access-date=2024-10-12 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |last=Jacobsen |first=Ove |date=2005-12-09 |title=Historisk for Alexander Dale Oen |trans-title=Historical for Alexander Dale Oen |url=https://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/Jrqam/historisk-for-alexander-dale-oen |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Bergens Tidende |language=nb}} He set a new Nordic Record in the event at the latter championship with a time of 59.05 seconds during the qualification heats and became the first Norwegian to swim the distance in less than 1 minute.{{Cite web |last= |date=2005-12-08 |title=Dale Oen satte ny nordisk rekord |trans-title=Dale Oen set new Nordic record |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/L0p6GV/dale-oen-satte-ny-nordisk-rekord |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=VG |language=no}}

At the 2006 World Championships (25m) in Shanghai, Dale Oen won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke and became the first Norwegian swimmer to win a World Championships medal in 28 years.{{cite web |url= https://www.omegatiming.com/File/0001060E0022000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf |title= 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships - Men's 100 m breaststroke (final results) |work= OmegaTiming.com |access-date= 8 August 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Bjelland |first=Eli |date=2006-04-06 |title=Historisk symjemedalje |trans-title=Historical swimming medal |url=https://www.nrk.no/vestland/historisk-symjemedalje-1.408378 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}} He followed up the achievement at the 2006 European Championships in Budapest, where he won the silver medal in the 100 m breaststroke, setting a new Nordic record in long course with a time of 1:00.63, and became the first Norwegian male swimmer in history to win a European Championships individual medal.{{cite web |url= https://www.omegatiming.com/File/00010608001B000000FFFFFFFFFFFF01.pdf |title= 2006 European Aquatics Championships - Men's 100 m breaststroke (final results) |work= OmegaTiming.com |access-date= 8 August 2021}}{{Cite web |date=2006-08-01 |title=Dale Oen skrev svømme-historie |trans-title=Dale Oen made swimming history |url=https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/dale-oen-skrev-svomme-historie/66238115 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Dagbladet |language=no}} Dale Oen won his first short course medal at the 2006 European Short Course Championships in Helsinki, taking bronze in the 100 m breaststroke and setting a new personal best and Nordic record with a time of 58.70.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-08 |title=Dale Oen tok bronse i EM |trans-title=Dale Oen took bronze at the European Championships |url=https://www.fvn.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/jp8Xz/dale-oen-tok-bronse-i-em |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Fædrelandsvennen |language=nb}}

During the 2007 World Championships in Melbourne, Dale Oen was the second fastest in the qualification heats of the 100 metre breaststroke, setting a new Nordic record with the time of 1:00.34, and third fastest in the semifinal, but finished last in the final.{{Cite web |date=2007-03-25 |title=Dale Oen med ny nordisk rekord |trans-title=Dale Oen with new Nordic record |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/x17kj/dale-oen-med-ny-nordisk-rekord |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=VG |language=no}}{{Cite web |last=Jacobsen |first=Ove |date=2007-03-30 |title=Oen har OL-planen klar |trans-title=Oen has got the Olympic Games plan ready |url=https://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/53W7b/oen-har-ol-planen-klar |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Bergens Tidende |language=nb}} At the 2007 European Short Course Championships in Debrecen, he set a new personal best and finished second in the semifinals with a time of 58.60, but finished placed fifth in the final.{{Cite web |last=Sonstad |first=Trym Oust |date=2007-12-14 |title=Skuffende femteplass for Oen |trans-title=Disappointing fifth place for Oen |url=https://www.dagbladet.no/sport/skuffende-femteplass-for-oen/66417734 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Dagbladet |language=no}}

Dale Oen won the gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke, setting a new European record with a time of 59.76, and the silver medal in the 50 m and 200 m breaststroke at the 2008 European Championships in Eindhoven. He won the silver medal in the 100 m breastroke event at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, earning Norway's first ever Olympic medal in swimming and setting new Olympic records during the qualification heats and semifinals.{{Cite news |last=Bull |first=Andy |date=2012-06-02 |title=With Alexander Dale Oen's sudden death, Norway lost a hero |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/jun/02/alexander-dale-oen-death |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Observer |language=en-GB |issn=0029-7712}}{{Cite web |last=Kippernes |first=Geir Arne |last2=Hansen |first2=Knut Arne |date=2012-05-01 |title=OL-mesteren til VG Nett: - Han var en god venn og en stor rival |trans-title=Olympic champion to VG Nett: - He was a good friend and a great rival |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/9POl5/ol-mesteren-til-vg-nett-han-var-en-god-venn-og-en-stor-rival |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=VG |language=no}}

In 2010, Dale Oen successfully defended his European title in the 100 m breaststroke and won the silver medal in the 200 m breaststroke at the 2010 European Championships in Budapest.{{Cite web |last=Hjellen |first=Bjørnar |date=2010-08-10 |title=Suveren Dale Oen tok EM-gull |trans-title=Superior Dale Oen tok European Championships gold |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/suveren-dale-oen-tok-em-gull-1.7243734 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}{{Cite web |last=Bøhtun |first=Gunnar |date=2010-08-12 |title=Sølv og norsk rekord til Dale Oen |trans-title=Silver and Norwegian record for Dale Oen |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/L2mwq/soelv-og-norsk-rekord-til-dale-oen |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=VG |language=no}} During the 2011 World Championships in Shanghai, he won the gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke and set a new Nordic record with the time of 58.71.{{cite web|url=http://omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2011/shanghai2011/C73A1_Results%20(One%20Heat%20-%20Individual)_106_Heat1_Men_100_Breast.pdf|title=2011 World Aquatics Championships – Men's 100 metre breaststroke (final)|publisher=Omega Timing|access-date=2011-07-25|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120526114754/http://www.omegatiming.com/swimming/racearchives/2011/shanghai2011/C73A1_Results%20(One%20Heat%20-%20Individual)_106_Heat1_Men_100_Breast.pdf|archive-date=2012-05-26}} The medal was Norway's first World Championship gold medal in swimming.{{Cite web |date=2011-07-25 |title=Tok gull for folket |trans-title=Took gold for the people |url=https://www.ba.no/sport/tok-gull-for-folket/s/1-41-5681203 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Bergensavisen |language=no}} Dale Oen's win came three days after the Oslo attacks and he dedicated his medal to the victims of the attacks.{{Cite web |date=2012-06-12 |title=Autopsy: Swimmer Dale Oen had heart disease |url=https://www.espn.com/olympics/swimming/story/_/id/8043623/autopsy-reveals-swimming-champ-alexander-dale-oen-had-heart-disease |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16219807 |title=Norwegian Swimmer Alexander Dale Oen Dies After Cardiac Arrest at US Training Camp |work=Sky News |access-date=2 May 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501153357/http://news.sky.com/home/world-news/article/16219807 |archive-date=1 May 2012 }}{{Cite web |last=Hoel |first=Yasmin Sunde |last2=Hjellen |first2=Bjørnar |date=2012-05-01 |title=– Han viste vei etter 22. juli |trans-title=– He showed the way after 22. July |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/_-han-viste-vei-etter-22.-juli-1.8111436 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}} At the 2011 European Short Course Championships in Szczecin, Dale Oen won the gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke and the bronze medal in the 50 m breaststroke.{{Cite web |last=Aaen |first=Lars Mørch |date=2011-12-10 |title=Dale Oen: – Ikke mitt felt |trans-title=Dale Oen: – Not my field |url=https://www.tv2.no/sport/%C3%B8vrig/dale-oen-ikke-mitt-felt/13240558/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=TV 2 |language=nb-NO}}

{{swimmingpersonalrecordlisttop|meet=yes}}

{{swimmingrecord

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{{end}}

{{swimmingrecordlegend|WR=yes|ER=yes|nation=Norwegian}}

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{{swimmingrecord

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{{swimmingrecord

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{{swimmingrecord

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{{swimmingrecord

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|time = 55.34

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|country = NOR

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{{end}}

{{swimmingrecordlegend|WR=yes|ER=yes|nation=Norwegian}}

On 30 April 2012, Dale Oen collapsed in the shower during a training camp in Flagstaff, Arizona.{{Cite news |date=2012-05-01 |title=London 2012: Norwegian swimming champion Alexander Dale Oen dies |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17908737 |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} He was found by teammates who began administering CPR until paramedics arrived. Dale Oen was transferred to a hospital, but pronounced dead on arrival, aged 26. Following his death, tributes were made by friends and swimming rivals Cameron van der Burgh and Kosuke Kitajima.{{Cite web |last=Ramm |first=Nicolay Andre |date=2012-05-01 |title=Idrettskollegaene hyller Dale Oen |trans-title=Sporting colleagues honor Dale Oen |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/idrettskollegaene-hyller-dale-oen-1.8111389 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}} An initial autopsy was inconclusive, but a second revealed that Dale Oen suffered from severe atherosclerotic coronary artery disease, with the three main coronary arteries feeding his myocardium up to 90 percent occluded by atherosclerotic plaque, as well as an enlarged heart, and that he died of a myocardial infarction.{{Cite web |last=Haugli |first=Kurt B.M. |last2=Dyregrov |first2=Silje |last3=Veland |first3=Bernhard |date=2012-06-12 |title=Dale Oen døde av hjerteinfarkt |trans-title=Dale Oen died of a heart attack |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/i/50bm9O/dale-oen-doede-av-hjerteinfarkt |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Aftenposten |language=nb}} The autopsy also revealed that Dale Oen had suffered a series of small heart attacks in the months prior to his death, which went unrecognized.{{Cite web |last=Hjellen |first=Bjørnar |date=2012-06-12 |title=Dale Oen døde av hjerteinfarkt |trans-title=Dale Oen died of a heart attack |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/dale-oen-dode-av-hjerteinfarkt-1.8195878 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}} He had experienced pain that radiated down his arm, and into his shoulder, face and chest, but this was attributed to a shoulder injury and a pinched nerve. The only conventional risk factors Dale Oen had for heart disease were a "slightly elevated cholesterol level" and the fact that his grandfather died suddenly at 42, of an unknown cause.{{Cite web |last=Gjerding |first=May Linn |last2=Mosveen |first2=Eirik |last3=Borud |first3=Eirik |last4=Majid |first4=Shazia |date=2012-06-12 |title=Oens bestefar døde tidlig - ukjent for Olympiatoppen |trans-title=Oen's grandfather died early - unknown for Olympiatoppen |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/eAMzy/oens-bestefar-doede-tidlig-ukjent-for-olympiatoppen |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=VG |language=no}} Dale Oen's funeral was held on 11 May 2012, in Øygarden, Norway.{{Cite web |last=Holden |first=Lillian |date=2012-05-07 |title=Alexander Dale Oen begraves på fredag |trans-title=Alexander Dale Oen to be buried on Friday |url=https://www.vg.no/sport/i/516bO/alexander-dale-oen-begraves-paa-fredag |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=VG |language=no}}

Italian swimmer Fabio Scozzoli dedicated his gold medal in the 100 m breaststroke at the 2012 European Championships to Dale Oen.{{Cite web |date=2012-05-22 |title=Scozzoli dedicates Euros gold to Dale Oen |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/7960042/fabio-scozzoli-dedicates-100-meter-breaststroke-gold-european-championships-alex-dale-oen |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=ESPN |language=en}} At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, South African swimmer Cameron van der Burgh and Hungarian swimmer Dániel Gyurta, who won the men's 100 m breaststroke and the men's 200 m breaststroke respectively and both set new world records, dedicated their swims and medals to Dale Oen due to their close friendship with the Norwegian.{{Cite web |last=Drangsholt |first=Gaute Bugge |date=2012-07-29 |title=Van der Burgh hedret Dale Oen med verdensrekord |trans-title=Van der Burgh honored Dale Oen with World Record |url=https://www.tv2.no/sport/ol/van-der-burgh-hedret-dale-oen-med-verdensrekord/13459936/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=TV 2 |language=nb-NO}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2013-01-14 |title=Daniel Gyurta Honors Alexander Dale Oen With Special Gold Medal |url=https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/daniel-gyurta-honors-alexander-dale-oen-with-special-gold-medal/ |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Swimming World News |language=en-US}} Gyurta originally intended to gift a copy of his gold medal to Dale Oen's family, but due to the rules of the International Olympic Committee forbidding replicas of Olympic medals, he later gifted a special medal to the family and held a speech in Norwegian during the Norwegian Sports Gala in order to honor their friendship.{{Cite news |date=2012-08-06 |title=Daniel Gyurta to have gold medal made to honour Alexander Dale Oen |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2012/aug/06/daniel-gyurta-alexander-dale-oen |access-date=2024-10-11 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |last=Riise |first=Hege Bakken |last2=Rove Bentsen |first2=Anders |date=2013-01-12 |title=Her hedrer han Alexander Dale Oen |trans-title=Here he honors Alexander Dale Oen |url=https://www.nrk.no/sport/her-hedrer-han-alexander-dale-oen-1.10868370 |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=NRK |language=nb-NO}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nemzetisport.hu/london_2012/olimpia-gyurta-elkuldi-aranya-masolatat-dale-oen-csaladjanak-2157115|title=Gyurta elküldi aranya másolatát elhunyt társa családjának|publisher=nso.hu|date=2 August 2012|access-date=2 August 2012}} The new public swimming pool in Bergen that opened in 2014 was named Alexander Dale Oen Arena (AdO Arena) in his honour.{{Cite web |last=Smørdal |first=Sander Englund |date=2014-06-03 |title=Milliardanlegget får navn etter Dale Oen |trans-title=Billion-facility named after Dale Oen |url=https://www.tv2.no/sport/milliardanlegget-far-navn-etter-dale-oen/5659905/ |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=TV 2 |language=nb-NO}} Among others, then-Norwegian prime minister Erna Solberg held a speech at the opening of the pool, naming Dale Oen as "perhaps the greatest athlete of the country."{{cite news |last=Haga |first=Anders |last2=Jansen |first2=Kristin |date=10 October 2014 |title=Her åpnes ADO Arena |trans-title=Here opens ADO Arena |url=https://www.bt.no/nyheter/lokalt/i/P51w7/her-aapnes-ado-arena |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=28 April 2015 |work=Bergens Tidende |agency=}} In May 2015, a statue of Dale Oen made by sculptor Arne Mæland was unveiled at the Coastal Museum in Øygarden.{{Cite web |date=2015-05-28 |title=Dale Oen hedret med statue hjemme i Øygarden |trans-title=Dale Oen honoured with statue in home Øygarden |url=https://www.bt.no/sport/i/Xg6PMW/dale-oen-hedret-med-statue-hjemme-i-oeygarden |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Bergens Tidende |language=nb}} The unveiling was attended by a crowd of one thousand people, which included then-Mayor of Bergen Trude Drevland and Dániel Gyurta, who placed a flower wreath on behalf of the international swimming community.{{Cite web |last=Langeland |first=Knut |date=2015-05-29 |title=Strilen som erobra verda |trans-title=The stril who conquered the world |url=https://www.aftenposten.no/sport/meninger/i/lAMwAA/strilen-som-erobra-verda |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=www.aftenposten.no |language=nb}}

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{{succession box|title=European Swimmer of the Year|before=Camille Lacourt|after=Yannick Agnel|years= 2011}}

{{succession box|title=Norwegian Sportsperson of the Year|before=Thor Hushovd|after=Tora Berger|years= 2011}}

{{s-end}}

{{Footer World LC Champions 100m Breaststroke Men}}

{{Footer European Champions 100m Breaststroke Men}}

{{Footer European SC Champions 100m Breaststroke Men}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dale Oen, Alexander}}

Category:1985 births

Category:2012 deaths

Category:Olympic silver medalists for Norway

Category:Norwegian male breaststroke swimmers

Category:Swimmers at the 2004 Summer Olympics

Category:Swimmers at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic swimmers for Norway

Category:World Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming

Category:People from Øygarden

Category:Swimmers from Bergen

Category:Medalists at the FINA World Swimming Championships (25 m)

Category:European Aquatics Championships medalists in swimming

Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics

Category:Olympic silver medalists in swimming

Category:20th-century Norwegian people

Category:21st-century Norwegian sportsmen