At the 2006 FINA Short Course World Championships in Shanghai, Dale Oen won a bronze medal in the 100 m breaststroke, behind Oleg Lisogor and Brenton Rickard, and thus became the first Norwegian male to win a World Championships medal in swimming. Four months later, he followed that up with success at the 2006 European Swimming Championships, winning the silver medal in the 100 m breaststroke and setting a new Nordic record (long course), with 1:00.63.