US-born kitefoiler from Tonga for the Paris Olympics dies at age 18 in diving accident

US-born kitefoiler JJ Rice, who was due to represent Tonga at the Paris Olympics, has died in a diving accident. He was 18.Video above: Remembering those we lost in 2024 Rice’s father, Darren Rice, confirmed his son’s death to Matangi Tonga newspaper on Monday. Jackson James Rice was due to become the first white man to represent Tonga at an Olympic Games. His death occurred in Faleloa on Ha’apai island in the Tonga archipelago on Saturday. He was freediving from a boat when he is believed to have suffered a blackout in shallow water, Matangi Tonga reported. Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful. “I was blessed with the greatest brother in the world and it pains me to say he has passed away,” Rice’s sister Lily said in a Facebook post. “He was an incredible kitefoiler and would have made it to the Olympics and won a big shiny medal. He’s made so many great friends all over the world.” Rice was born in the United States to British parents but grew up in Ha’apai, where his parents run a tourist accommodation. He finished eighth in the Sail Sydney event in December, securing his Olympic spot. Kitefoiling will be an Olympic discipline for the first time in Paris. Rice has recently been training and competing in Europe. Kitefoilers race on boards that are lifted out of the water on airfoils and can reach speeds of more than 50 km/h.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand —

US-born kitefoiler JJ Rice, who was supposed to represent Tonga at the Olympic Games in Paris, died in a diving accident. He was 18 years old.

Video above: Remembering those we lost in 2024

Rice’s father, Darren Rice, confirmed his son’s death to the Matangi Tonga newspaper on Monday.

Jackson James Rice could have been the first Caucasian to represent Tonga at the Olympic Games. His death occurred on Saturday in Faleloa on the island of Ha’apai in the Tonga archipelago.

He was freediving from a boat when he suffered what is believed to be a blackout in shallow water, Matangi Tonga reported. Attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

“I was blessed with the greatest brother in the world and it pains me to say he has passed away,” Rice’s sister Lily said in a Facebook post. “He was an amazing kitefoiler and would have made it to the Olympics and won a big shiny medal. He made so many great friends all over the world.”

International Kiteboarding Association

Rice was born in the US to British parents but grew up in Ha’apai, where his parents run a tourist hostel. He finished eighth at the Sail Sydney event in December to secure his Olympic spot. Kitefoiling will be an Olympic discipline for the first time in Paris.

Rice had recently trained and competed in Europe.

Kitefoilers race on boards that are lifted out of the water using wings and can reach speeds of over 50 km/h.