Wayne Lumbasi
Tunisian sailor Eya Guezguez, who competed in the Tokyo Olympics last year, has died at the age of 17 after her boat capsized while training at sea with her twin sister Sarra, who survived the accident.
The International Olympic Committee said that the pair’s vessel capsized on Sunday as a result of strong winds while they were training with the Tunisian national team.
With their coach alongside in a RIB while training, he was able to help free Sarra from the tangled rigging before locating Eya on whom he attempted CPR. The young Olympian was taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead.
The incident has shocked Tunisia’s sporting community and sparked anger and frustration amongst Tunisians, with many questioning management and the nature of safety equipment.
The sisters became the youngest athletes to represent Tunisia at an Olympic Games and were the youngest sailors in Tokyo. They had hopes of representing Tunisia at the 2024 Olympics in Paris and beyond.
