Terrible news just over a month before the start of the Paris Olympics. Young kitesurfer Jackson James Rice has diedwho was due to make his Olympic debut at Paris 2024 this summer to represent Tonga.
Kitesurfer Rice dies at age 18
He was 18 years old and died in a diving accident. His disappearance dates back to Saturday 15 June, but the news only reached the public today after his father, Darren, announced it to online news portal Matangi Tonga. According to Darren Rice, his son was free diving from a boat on Ha’apai Island in Tonga when he died due to a suspected blackout in shallow water.
His body was found on the seabed under the boat by other divers. Attempts to resuscitate him failed. His sister Lily paid tribute to the athlete in a post on Facebook. “I was blessed to have the most amazing brother in the world and it pains me to say that he has passed away…he was an amazing kitefoiler and would have made it to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medal,” she wrote. Rice was born in the United States to British parents, but grew up in Ha’apai and represented Tonga for several years in kite foiling at international events. Kite foiling is similar to kiteboarding, but with a hydrofoil under the board. Kitesurfing will make its Olympic debut in Paris 2024.
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