Jackson James Rice has tragically died in a diving accident just weeks before being due to compete at the Paris Olympics.
The 18-year-old had been set to become the first caucasian to represent Tonga at an Olympic Games, having qualified for the new kite-foiling event.
Rice died in Faleloa, Tonga on Saturday from a “suspected shallow water blackout.”
He had been free diving from a boat when the tragic incident occurred.
His body was found beneath the boat at 12:15 p.m. with subsequent resuscitation attempts unsuccessful, his father Darren confirmed to the Matangi Tonga newspaper.
Rice’s sister Lily paid an emotional tribute to her brother on social media on Sunday.
She wrote on Facebook: “I was blessed with the most amazing brother in the whole world and it pains me to say that he’s passed away.
“He was an amazing kitefoiler and he would have made it to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medal … he made so many amazing friends all over the world.”
Rice, who had British parents, was born in the US before moving to Tonga.
He grew up in Haʻapai — where his parents run a tourist lodge — and viewed himself as Tongan.
The talented athlete qualified for what had been due to be his first Olympic Games last December, courtesy of an eight-placed finish at a Sail Sydney event.
As per ANOC, kite foil racing is said to combine aspects of “sailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing and paragliding into one extreme sport.”
