Norwegian swimming champion Oen dies after training

Norway's world swimming champion Alexander Dale Oen has died suddenly during training in the United States, the country's swimming federation said.

Dale Oen won a gold medal in the 100m breaststroke at the 2011 world championships in Shanghai in July and was regarded as a medal hope for the London 2012 Olympic Games, DPA reported.

Norwegian media said he was found collapsed in a shower late on Monday after training in Flagstaff, Arizona.

He was taken to the Flagstaff Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

Norwegian Swimming Federation president Per Rune Eknes said he had suffered a cardiac arrest.

Norwegian team doctor Ola Roensen said Oen had appeared healthy in training.