What The Olympic Spirit Is About: Gyurta Orders Replica Gold For Dale Oen

Gyurta Orders Replica Gold For Dale Oen

 

Craig Lord

 

Aug 4, 2012

Daniel Gyurta, the Hungarian Olympic champion in the 200m breaststroke in a world record of 2:07.28, is to make a copy of his London 2012 gold medal and present it to the family of his late friend and fellow breaststroker, Alexander Dale Oen, the Norwegian 100m world champion who died on the last day of April this year.
Dale Oen, 26, suffered cardiac arrest while at a high-altitude training camp in Arizona, USA in spring. Gyurta missed having him there to race alongside in London this week and wanted to make a gesture in memory of the Norwegian.
“Alexander was a really close friend. We shared plenty of joy in the past, discussed our races at various international events,” said Gyurta. “I was shocked when I learnt the news of his tragic death.”
Gyurta believes that Dale Oen could have won the 100m crown this year. The champion was another close friend of the Norwegian's Cameron van der Burgh, of South Africa, in world record time, 58.46.
"I planned to celebrate together," said Gyurta. "But it will never happen. Still, I’m convinced he would have deserved an Olympic gold medal, so when I get home I will order a copy of my gold medal and I will send it or possibly hand it personally to his family. I think this is the best way to honour his memory."

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