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French sporting world mourns after top athletes die in helicopter crash in Argentina

Associated Press
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FILE .- In this Sunday, July 29, 2012 file photo France's Camille Muffat celebrates with her gold medal for the women's 400-meter freestyle swimming final at the Aquatics Centre in the Olympic Park during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Two helicopters carrying passengers filming the popular European reality show "Dropped" crashed Monday, March 9, 2015 in a remote area of northwest Argentina, killing all passengers on board including Muffat, according to authorities. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill/File) (The Associated Press)

FILE.- In this Aug. 3, 2012 file photo, France's Alexis Vastine reacts after defeating Mongolia's Tuvshinbat Byamba in a men's welterweight 69-kg preliminary boxing match at the 2012 Summer Olympics, in London. Two helicopters carrying French sports stars filming a popular European reality show crashed in a remote part of Argentina, killing 10 people, including French Olympic gold medal swimmer Camille Muffat, Olympic boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud, according to a statement from La Rioja's government. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky/File) (The Associated Press)

Olympic gold medalist Camille Muffat had retired from swimming to focus on her personal life, boxer Alexis Vastine had some unfinished business after two disappointing Olympics, and the beloved sailor Florence Arthaud was a pioneer for women in her sport.

The three athletes were among 10 people who died as two helicopters filming a European reality show crashed in a remote part of Argentina on Monday.

French sports daily L'Equipe's website carried a picture of Muffat holding her Olympic gold medal along with the words "French Sport in Mourning."

French President Francois Hollande spoke of his "immense sadness," while some of the country's best-known athletes offered their condolences.

The helicopters apparently collided in midair near Villa Castelli in La Rioja province, about 730 miles (1,170 kilometers) northwest of Buenos Aires.