DEBRECEN, Hungary (AP) — Norwegian swimmers were moved to tears when fallen teammate Alex Dale Oen was remembered with a special tribute at the start of the European swimming championships.
Three weeks ago, Dale Oen died suddenly from cardiac arrest during a pre-Olympic training camp in Flagstaff, Ariz. He would have celebrated his 27th birthday Monday.
Before the start of the Euros first finals session, a video tribute was played and Norwegian Swimming Federation president Per Rune Eknes was called to the stage.
Norwegians are wearing black swim caps bearing Dale Oen’s initials on one side — “A.D.O.”
Dale Oen won the 100 breaststroke at last year’s world championships in Shanghai to give Norway its first such title in swimming.
