Teen Olympian Dies In Tragic Diving Accident Just Weeks Before Paris Olympics Debut
Jackson James Rice, a promising young athlete, tragically passed away while free diving last weekend. He was only 18.
His father, Darren Rice, confirmed with Matangi Tonga Online that his son died from a "suspected shallow water blackout" while free diving from a boat at Faleloa, Ha'apai, on Saturday. He said that his son's body was found by other divers on the seafloor underneath the boat at around 12:25 p.m. local time that day.
While they reportedly tried to resuscitate Jackson, he unfortunately passed away.
The tragic accident took place only a few weeks shy of the young kitefoiler's Olympic debut. Per CBS News, Jackson, also known as JJ, was set to become the first Caucasian representative of Tonga at the Olympic Games.
He just recently returned to Tonga after participating in the 2024 Formula Kite World Championships in France last May 13 to 19.
"This is the last big regatta before kiteboarding makes its Olympic debut at Paris 2024 less than three months from now," he told Matangi Tonga Online last month.
"I've lived in Tonga my whole life, I see myself as a Tongan, I don't see myself as anything else."
"It would be so nice if we could get the young kids sailing in Tonga and hopefully, yeah, push them through to the next Olympics," the U.S.-born athlete added.
While he was born in the United States, he grew up in Tonga, where his parents, Darren and Nina Rice, own an island resort in Faleloa.
But because of the free-diving accident, the Olympic debut JJ was so excited about would no longer happen.
"He was so talented and was amazing at everything he tried. He was an amazing kitefoiler, and he would have made it to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medal and an even bigger smile," his sister Lily wrote in a tribute on Facebook.
