Olympic Hopeful J.J. Rice's Sister Speaks Out After His Fatal Diving Accident

Jackson James "J.J." Rice's family continues to mourn his death. 

After the 18-year-old kitefoiler died in a diving accident June 15 off the coast of Tonga, his sister Lily Rice was one of many to share a tribute in J.J.'s honor. 

"I was blessed with the most amazing brother in the whole world," she began a June 16 Facebook post. "I miss JJ beyond belief I'm in shock I still cant believe it and it will take all of us who loved JJ so long to feel ok again. JJ was the most amazing funny unique person I've ever known and I'm going to miss everything about him."

She added of his dream to one day participate on the Tongan Olympic team for kite foil racing, "He was an amazing kitefoiler and he would have made it to the Olympics and come out with a big shiny medal and a even bigger smile. I will try my best to use what he taught me to be even a tiny bit as amazing as he was."

In May, J.J. competed at the Last Chance Reggata in Hyères, France, where he hoped to earn a spot at the 2024 Olympics, though he fell just short.

"After a few mistakes on my part and not being able to keep with the front pack my Olympic dream for this Olympic cycle has come to an end," J.J. wrote in a May 25 post following the competition. "That doesn't mean it is the end for me. With another cycle just around the corner in 2028 I will be training as hard as possible."

He continued, "Now I begin the long trip back home, and I cannot wait to get back to Tonga to see family, friends and of course my beautiful training grounds." 

However, just weeks later, J.J. died in what was suspected to be a shallow water blackout, his father Darren Rice told local outlet Matangi Tonga Online, while free diving. His body was reportedly found on the seafloor underneath the boat by other divers and attempts to resuscitate him failed. 

And while J.J. had a global presence—representing Tonga in international kite foil competitions over the years—his father remembered the impact his son had much closer to home. Darren told Matangi Tonga about two times J.J. selflessly risked his life for others—first to help rescue passengers after a ferryboat capsized off Faleloa in 2021, and again when he swam out to rescue two girls who had been swept off a sandbar.

Pita Taufatofua—a Tongan athlete who has previously represented his country in skiing and taekwondo at the Olympics—also shared a moving tribute to the aspiring Olympian, who grew up in Tonga on the Matafonua Island Lodge owned by his parents. 

"In-between helping at the resort he would do what he loved, kite surfing out in the oceans of Haapai," Pita said of J.J. in a June 18 Instagram post. "Being self taught as a kid he reached a level where he would compete at the recent Olympic qualifiers on his quest to one day represent Tonga at the Olympic Games."

"From all of us from the Kingdom of Tonga," he continued, "we continue to be inspired by you and your families dedication and love for the islands and our beautiful oceans. May you continue to ride the waves of heaven on your next great Adventure!"