About this episode
This week Brett welcomes Robin Dale Oen on the show to talk about his late brother Alexander Dale Oen, the Norwegian Olympic swimmer who tragically passed away in 2012 at the age of 26. Robin and Alexander grew up swimming together and dreamed of competing in the Olympics. While Robin had success as a sprinter, Alexander established himself as one of the world's top breaststrokers, winning silver at the 2008 Olympics behind Kosuke Kitajima. Tragically, Alexander passed away from an undiagnosed heart condition just months before the 2012 London Olympics, where he was considered a top contender. To honor his brother's memory and legacy, Robin started the Dale Oen Foundation , which uses outdoor activities to inspire and develop youth across Norway. The foundation now has six centers around the country serving over 1,000 young people annually. Our Sponsors: EO SWIM BETTER: Analyse your stroke technique with eo's SwimBETTER handsets. Go to eolab.com/SwimBETTER, and use code BRETT at checkout to get 9 months free on a single gold annual membership with any handset purchase. BRATTER PA IMMIGRATION LAW : Exclusive immigration representation of athletes, entrepreneurs, artists, investors, and entertainers. BEINE WELLNESS BUILDING: Individualize your nutrition with genetic testing and personalized plans. Eat, supplement, and recover based on your genetics. SWIMSTRONG DRYLAND: SwimStrong Dryland inspires and changes the lives of competitive swimmers through strength and leadership training, motivation and care. IMAGINE SWIMMING: NYC's Premier Swim School is looking for instructors and coaches! Lessons for all ages, from Baby Swim to adults, along with competitive club teams. INTL SWIMMING HALL OF FAME: Help preserve swimming history by joining the 1 in 1000 Club! #swimming #olympics #worldaquatics 0:00 - Introduction and swimming background 2:00 - Alexander's success and early health signs 4:30 - Details of Alexander's tragic passing in 2012 7:00 - Starting the foundation in Alexander's honor 9:30 - Foundation's centers and outdoor programs 12:00 - Stories about Alexander's character 14:30 - Robin's continued involvement in swimming 17:00 - Brothers' journey to Olympics dreams 19:30 - Foundation's community impact and legacy 22:00 - Funding challenges for foundation's work 24:30 - Hopes for Norwegian swimming's future 27:00 - Robin's invitation for me to visit Norway 29:30 - Appreciation for the interview 32:00 - Honoring Alexander's memory 34:30 - Details on annual foundation conferences 37:00 - Impact of podcast and motivation 40:00 - Conclusion and farewell