Tunisian Olympic sailor Eya Guezguez has died aged 17 after a coaching accident in waters off the capital Tunis on Sunday.
Guezguez was the youngest Tunisian eventually yr’s Tokyo Olympics and competed within the girls’s 49er FX class together with her twin sister Sarra, who is 2 minutes older.
The Tunisian Olympic Committee (CNOT) has described her dying as “a tragedy within the sports activities scene” whereas the Tunisian Minister of Sports activities and Youth paid tribute to Guezguez and despatched his condolences to her household.
Debutants Eya and Sarra, each then aged 16, completed backside of their occasion in twenty first place in Tokyo.
“I’m shocked by the information of sailor Eya Guezguez’s dying,” Worldwide Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach stated.
“She was an inspiring expertise and position mannequin for her athletes’ era.
“Eya Guezguez’s participation at Tokyo 2020 alongside her twin sister Sarra will proceed to encourage ladies all over the place. Our ideas are together with her household, pals and the Olympic group in Tunisia.”
CNOT’s Fb web page stated that rising star Guezguez died whereas coaching for upcoming regional and worldwide competitors.
A dinghy being sailed by Eya and Sarra capsized in windy climate, with CNOT president Mehrez Boussayan telling native radio the sisters’ coach was alongside them in a speedboat on the time.
The coach reportedly managed to assist Sarra flee the tangled rigging earlier than then finding Eya, on whom he tried CPR however in useless.
The younger Olympian was taken to hospital the place she was pronounced useless after drowning.
The small print surrounding the tragedy stay unclear, however some reviews point out the accident was a results of dangerous climate and powerful winds.
The incident has shocked Tunisia’s sporting group and sparked anger and frustration amongst Tunisians, with many questioning administration and the character of security gear.
An investigation has been launched into the incident, which occurred a number of hours earlier than Muslims have been as a consequence of break their quick on the ninth day of Ramadan.
“Could God have mercy on the deceased, grant her everlasting relaxation in paradise, and grant her household and family members and all the sports activities household an exquisite persistence and solace,” an announcement from CNOT stated.
