JJ Rice dead: Kitefoiling star, 18, set to represent Tonga at Paris Olympics dies in diving accident

His death was confirmed by his father Darren on Monday (June 17) to the Matangi Tonga newspaper. According to the report, JJ, whose real name is Jackson James, died on Saturday after suffering a suspected blackout and drowned. His body was found by other divers and attempts to resuscitate him failed.

Paying tribute, his sister Lily said in a Facebook post. She said: “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.”

JJ’s passing comes just weeks before he was set to make history in Paris as the first Caucasian to represent Tonga in kitefoiling, a new Olympic sport debuting this year. He finished eighth at the Sail Sydney event in December to earn his Olympic place. He had recently been training and competing in Europe.

Kitefoilers race on boards that are lifted off the water on foils and can reach speeds of more than 30mph. He told ABC Pacific this year that he hoped to use a grant to set up a sailing school after the Olympics. He said: “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.”