Death of French athletes leaves sports world in shock

A helicopter crash that killed three prolific French athletes has members of the sports circle reeling.

Among the 10 people who died in the crashes were Olympic gold medalist swimmer Camille Muffat, boxer Alexis Vastine and sailor Florence Arthaud, according to Jerome Pugmire of the Associated Press. They were in the midst of filming a European reality show in Argentina on Monday. 

French daily L'Equipe has a photo of the two women and man emblazoned on its home page in what is otherwise a devastating blow to the country's sports core.

French secretary of state for sport Thierry Braillard went on BFM television to show respect to the three athletes the country so deeply mourns.

"Some had finished their careers and one was dreaming of gold in Rio (in 2016)," Braillard said. "I'm profoundly saddened."

The choppers reportedly collided mid-air, though a direct cause has yet to be determined. 

Former France and Arsenal striker Sylvain Wiltord was among the other athletes in the taping, though he was not involved in the incident.

"I am sad for my friends, I'm trembling, I'm horrified, I don't have words. I can't say anything," Wiltord said in a tweet.