French sailor Charlie Dalin has died at 42 following a long battle with cancer, just months after claiming victory in the grueling Vendee Globe race. Dalin won the 2024-25 edition, completing the 24,300-mile solo circumnavigation in 64 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds - shattering the previous record by over nine days.

Dalin achieved this remarkable feat while fighting a rare gastrointestinal cancer, revealing he had been diagnosed with a tumor days before the race started. He underwent immunotherapy treatment throughout the competition, keeping his condition largely private until disclosing it in a book released last October. His wife Perrine Le Pape confirmed his passing on Thursday.

The victory marked Dalin's second attempt at the solo round-the-world challenge. He previously finished second in 2020-21 after crossing the line first, only to be relegated when Yannick Bestaven received a time bonus for rescuing a fellow competitor. Dalin withdrew from the Transat Jacques Vabre in late 2023 due to medical issues.

His death comes as a shock to the sailing community, cutting short the career of one of France's most promising sailors. Dalin's achievement of combining elite athletic performance with a serious illness while raising awareness through his book leaves a lasting legacy in offshore sailing.