J.J. Rice, a U.S.-born kitefoiler who was set to represent Tonga in the upcoming Paris Olympics, died in a diving accident over the weekend, his father said. He was 18.
Jackson James Rice was set to be the first Caucasian to represent Tonga in the Olympics. He died at Faleloa on the island of Ha’apai in Tonga. His father, Darren Rice, confirmed his son’s death in the Matangi Tonga newspaper.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM
“I was blessed with the most amazing brother in the whole world and it pains me to say that he’s passed away,” Lily Rice, J.J.’s sister, wrote in a Facebook post. “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 was free diving from a boat when he suffered a suspected shallow water blackout, according to Matangi Tonga.
OLYMPIC HOPEFUL FRED RICHARD HAS PLENTY MORE GAMES THAN 2024 ON MIND: ‘MINIMUM THREE, MAYBE FOUR’
Rice was born in the U.S. but grew up on Ha’apai, where his parents run a tourist lodge. He finished in eighth place in the Sail Sydney event in December to earn a spot in the Olympics. Since then, he had been training and competing in Europe before the accident.
Kitefoilers compete on boards that are lifted off of the water on foils and can reach speeds of more than 30 mph.
About 40 kitefoilers are set to compete in the Olympics this summer.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
Article Source: Sports From Fox News Read More