Sports & Fitness

Teenage Tunisian Olympic sailor Eya Guezguez drowns in training

17-year-old athlete perishes in boating accident while sailing with twin sister Sarra after vessel capsizes during national team training

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 12 Apr 2022 5:00PM

Teenage Tunisian Olympic sailor Eya Guezguez drowns in training
Tunisian sailor Eya Guezguez (pictured above), who represented her country at the Tokyo Olympics, drowned in an accident while sailing with her twin sister Sarra, who was rescued, during national team training yesterday, according to an announcement made by the International Olympic Committee. – olympics.com pic, April 12, 2022

TUNIS − Tunisian sailor Eya Guezguez, who represented her country at the Tokyo Olympics, has died aged 17 in an accident during national team training, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced yesterday. 

The accident occurred when the boat she was sailing with her twin sister Sarra capsized in high winds in training. 

Eya drowned but her sister was rescued. 

The twins competed at Tokyo aged just 16.

“I am shocked by the news of sailor Eya Guezguez’s death. She was an inspiring talent and role model for her athletes’ generation,” said IOC president Thomas Bach in a statement on the organisations website.

“Eya Guezguez’s participation at Tokyo 2020 alongside her twin sister Sarra will continue to motivate girls everywhere. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and the Olympic community in Tunisia.”

The sisters competed together in the 49er FX class in Tokyo where they finished 21st. – AFP, April 12, 2022

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