During the week, French sailing star Charlie Dalin succumbed to cancer at the age of just 42. There is great sadness far beyond the boundaries of his sport. Biathlon icon Martin Fourcade paid tribute to his late compatriot on social media.
It was only last autumn that it became known that Charlie Dalin won his triumph at the last Vendée Globe under dramatic circumstances: the top athlete announced at the time that he had already suffered from a rare form of cancer while sailing around the world.
A gastrointestinal stromal tumor, a tumor in the small intestine that normally only occurs in people over 60, was diagnosed as early as 2023.
Dalin fought, but the battle was lost: On Thursday, his family told the AFP news agency that the top sailor had died the night before at the age of 42.
“It is with deep sadness that my family and I announce the death of my husband Charlie Dalin, who passed away after a long illness,” said his wife Perrine Le Pape.
Dalin’s death hit biathlon legend Martin Fourcade hard. On Instagram he wrote about a picture of his compatriot: “Every day we become more aware of how important your achievements are.”
President Macron also expressed his condolences
But it wasn’t just Fourcade who honored Dalin’s life’s work; French President Emmanuel Macron, among others, also showed the highest respect for the athlete.
“Charlie Dalin won the Vendée Globe while quietly fighting a different battle,” wrote Macron on X: “France pays tribute to a great sailor, a man of rare courage, a beacon on the high seas.”
Dalin’s friend and former rival Yoann Richomme also commented. “What a remarkable battle you fought against this cruel disease. I am deeply impressed by your perseverance and optimism, right up to your final days,” Richomme wrote on Instagram. “You will be missed, you will be missed! Fair winds, my friend.”