French triathlete Laurent Vidal dies of heart attack

PARIS (AP) Laurent Vidal, a French triathlete who finished fifth at the 2012 Olympics in London, has died of a heart attack. He was 31.

The French triathlon federation said Tuesday that Vidal died overnight at his home in southern France. An emergency response team was immediately called on site but could not resuscitate him.

Vidal, who also won the French triathlon title three times, suffered a heart attack during a training session in a swimming pool last year. He was placed in an induced coma before recovering, but was forced to retire from the sport.

French President Francois Hollande offered his condolences to Vidal's family and paid tribute to ''a great champion.''