J.J. Rice, a U.S.-born kitefoiler who was set to characterize Tonga within the upcoming Paris Olympics, died in a diving accident over the weekend, his father stated. He was 18.
Jackson James Rice was set to be the primary Caucasian to represent Tonga within the Olympics. He died at Faleloa on the island of Ha’apai in Tonga. His father, Darren Rice, confirmed his son’s loss of life within the Matangi Tonga newspaper.
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The Paris Olympic Video games emblem is being displayed on a smartphone with the Paris 2024 Olympic Video games icon seen within the background on this picture illustration in Brussels on Could 11, 2024. (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto by way of Getty Pictures)
“I used to be blessed with probably the most superb brother in the entire world and it pains me to say that he’s handed away,” Lily Rice, J.J.’s sister, wrote in a Fb publish. “He was a tremendous kitefoiler and he would have made it to the Olympics and are available out with an enormous shiny medal. He made so many superb associates everywhere in the world.”
Rice was free diving from a ship when he suffered a suspected shallow water blackout, in line with Matangi Tonga.
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An in depth-up of the “Paris 2024” emblem on the Phryge mascot’s stuffed toy as a part of ninth stage of the Olympic Torch Relay in Toulouse, southwest of France, Could 17, 2024. (PAT BATARD/Hans Lucas/AFP by way of Getty Pictures)
Rice was born within the U.S. however grew up on Ha’apai, the place his mother and father run a vacationer lodge. He completed in eighth place within the Sail Sydney occasion in December to earn a spot within the Olympics. Since then, he had been coaching and competing in Europe earlier than the accident.
Kitefoilers compete on boards which might be lifted off of the water on foils and might attain speeds of greater than 30 mph.
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About 40 kitefoilers are set to compete within the Olympics this summer time.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
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