Jackson James Rice was tragically killed in a diving accident just weeks before he was scheduled to compete in the Paris Olympics. He was 18 years old.
The teenager was set to compete in the newly established kite-flying event and become the first white athlete to represent Tonga at the Olympics.
Rice died on Saturday in Faleloa, Tonga, after “apparently losing consciousness in shallow water.”
He was free diving off a boat when the tragic incident happened.
His father, Darren, confirmed to Matangi Tonga newspaper that his son’s body was found under the boat at 12.15pm and subsequent resuscitation efforts had failed.
Rice’s sister, Lily, posted a moving tribute to her brother on social media on Sunday.
She wrote on Facebook: “I was blessed with the most amazing brother in the world and it is with such hardship that I have to tell you he has passed away.
“He was a fantastic kite flyer and would have competed in the Olympics and won a big shiny medal. He made lots of great friends all over the world.”
Rice, of British parents, was born in the United States before moving to Tonga.
He grew up in Ha’apai, where his parents ran a tourist lodge, and considered himself Tongan.
The talented athlete qualified for her first Olympic Games after placing eighth at Sail Sydney last December.
According to ANOC, kite foil racing “combines elements of sailing, wakeboarding, windsurfing, surfing and paragliding into one extreme sport.”
